Among the streets climb towards the village of Gurabunga, Tidore Islands, with a cool air in the sculptor, the aroma of the cherry blossoms began to be ciumed. It seems that a number of farmers are at the end of the cengkeh tree picking the flowers.
At the beginning of August until September is a cengkeh harvest season in the area. Very anticipated time by farmers. They are mutually shoulders to harvest the rivals that have matured because in addition to a fairly extreme plantation location, also the way of harvesting a fairly challenging cengkeh, farmers must be bulled at the end of the dahan with the help of bamboo stairs.
They pick one cengkeh flower unit that has started to flush and insert into the prepared sacks. After being collected, they lift them by passing the mountain slopes.
The slinger of his son when will harvest cengkeh in his garden in the village of Gurabunga, Tidore Islands, North Maluku.
Petani installs a safety strap for picking cengkeh during the cengkeh term harvest season in Ngade Ternate Village, North Maluku
The results of this harvest are indirectly sold, but they are taken home first. In the evening, farmers help to separate the stems and cengkeh flowers and the next morning, the cengkeh is sunbed by relying on the sun’s heat. The weather conditions that do not want to be a concern for farmers. They are forced to prepare emergency tents around the field to anticipate when raining occurs.
Tidore and Ternate has a long history as the world’s clove production center. The former representative of the European nation is still the mainstay of society. However, the congregation of cengkeh power in the region was recently started in the 16th century, but quickly fused in the social and cultural life of local communities. Cengkeh became part of their story, not only in trading, but also in traditions and culture.
For Tidore and Ternate communities, cengkeh is more than just economic commodities. The tradition of descending in harvesting and processing clove, strengthening social bonds among them. In each harvest season, the atmosphere of similarity looks clear, when gotong-royong became a way of life. These traditions involve all family members, from children to parents, mark that the cengkeh is not only income, but also a symbol of cultural wealth and courage.
Petani picked cengkeh flowers during the term of term harvesting in the Ngade Ternate Village, North Maluku
Petani exhibited the result of harvesting in Tongole Village, Ternate, North Maluku
In the middle of the time changes and fluctuative market prices, the hopes of cengkeh farmers in Tidore and Ternate remained simple, the price is worth their hard work. They hope that cengkeh can still be a life supporter, providing better future for future generations. The local government has also provided support and fulfillment to farmers in order to produce farmers to increase and quality so that it can improve the welfare of surrounding residents.
"Cengkeh has become part of our lives," said Gogo, a farmers from the village of Gurabunga. "From these trees we get livelihoods, and from this harvest we learn about the value of togetherness. "
With an inherent history and social value, cengkeh continues to play an important role in forming the identity of the Tidore and Ternate community. Until now, behind its distinctive aroma, hidden stories about perseverance, togetherness, and hope for a better future.
The number of farmers collect the yield of harvest in Tongole Village, Ternate, North Maluku.
The number of farmers brought the yield of harvest in Tongole Village, Ternate, North Maluku.
Photo & text : Andri Saputra
The number of people are strung-royong separating stems of crops in the village of Gurabunga, Tidore Islands, North Maluku.
Warga separates cengkeh stems of harvest in the village of Gurabunga, Tidore Islands, North Maluku.
The cengkeh spawn that has been purified from his stem in the village of Gurabunga Tidore Islands, North Maluku.
Warga sunbathing cengkeh in the Gurabunga Court, Tidore Islands, North Maluku.
The store owner recorded the weight of cengkeh belonging to citizens when weighed in Ternate North Maluku
The color indicates the money of cengkeh selling in the Expect Store in the North Maluku Ternate
Uang belongs to the intestinals sells his cengkeh in the Expect Store in the North Maluku Ternate
Editor : Yusran Uccang
