Klaten farmers ward off pests with aid of scarecrows

Klaten farmers ward off pests with aid of scarecrows

By Blontank POeR

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): For farmers, harvest failure or
a steep drop in the price of agricultural products is very
frustrating. Often, just as frustrating is the Ministry of
Agriculture official's insistence that the farmers use the
chemicals they prescribe: urea or calcium chloride fertilizer and
various pesticides. Usually, the official guarantees that the
farmers will prosper if they do what he says.

The farmers cannot refuse what they are told to do, although
they might know that excessive use of inorganic fertilizers will
tip the balance of soil's chemical properties. While the
uncontrolled use of pesticides makes insects immune to chemicals.

It was out this environmental concern that hundreds of farmers
in Koripan village, Klaten regency, Central Java, held a unique
scarecrow festival from Dec. 12 through Dec. 19. People of all
ages enthusiastically participated in the event. Every
participant came with an artistic scarecrow, traditionally used
to scare off birds that prey on their food crops.

Twenty-three scarecrows were presented to a panel of judges in
a soccer field before the scarecrows were paraded around the
village and installed in 10 hectares of paddy fields.

Over the week, different groups -- farmers, youths and
students -- toiled to come up with the most creative scarecrow.

Interestingly, most of the scarecrows had graffiti on their
bodies -- messages of anti-inorganic chemicals in agriculture.
The committee members claimed they did not instigate the farmers
to write the messages but said they were happy on realizing that
the farmers had environmental awareness, as activists have
relentlessly been campaigning.

The festival was initiated by the Care for the Environment
Group and The Taring Padi People's Culture Institute, both based
in Yogyakarta.

Activists of the two organizations said the festival aimed to
boosting the farming spirit of people in Delanggu, which is known
as one of Central Java's main producers of high-grade rice. They
see that many villagers are losing interest in farming. They have
begun selling their land to get money to start other more
profitable businesses in the cities.

With this festival, through an artistic approach, farmers were
encouraged to optimize the use of traditional farming tools
produced by their fellows in the neighboring Koripan village,
well-known for making keris (Javanese dagger).

Scarecrows have become a form of art highly popular among
farmers. They are not only good for scaring off grain-eating
birds but are also used in rituals to Dewi Sri, the Goddess of
Life, in Javanese tradition.

For example, soon after planting, farmers hold a ceremony
called nedhuni in which they pray to Dewi Sri for fertile ground
that will endow a good harvest. Then, before harvesting, farmers
will hold a thanksgiving ritual called wiwit.

A scarecrow is made of any material on hand and placed in the
field when the paddy crops begin to mature. Usually, farmers will
place several scarecrows in one field, each connected to the
other with thick string. The end of the string is tied to a
shackle built on a dike. When birds flies into the field, the
farmers will shake the scarecrows by pulling the string.

In addition to the scarecrows, some farmers also beat a bamboo
drum to scare off the birds.

Scarecrows are also a visualization of "evil spirits", which
are the farmers' enemies: like the birds and insects which
destroy their crops, the capitalists who dictate prices,
monopolize seeds and fertilizers and corrupt officials who draft
regulations that do not benefit farmers.