Integrating Environmentally Sustainable Farming with the Tengger Calendar for Ecosystem Sustainability
Amid the growing threat of climate change and declining soil quality caused by the extensive use of chemical inputs, the search for sustainable agricultural systems has become increasingly urgent. The Tengger Indigenous community in the Bromo-Semeru highlands has long maintained its own ecological approach through environmentally sustainable farming practices carefully aligned with the Tengger Calendar, also known as Pranata Mangsa.
This traditional, astronomy-based calendar serves not only as a way of marking time, but also as an ecological guide that regulates the rhythm of agricultural activities so that they remain in harmony with natural conditions.
The integration of farming practices and the Tengger Calendar is deeply rooted in the principle of Palemahan, which emphasizes a harmonious relationship between people and the natural environment. In the Tengger worldview, agricultural land is regarded as a living ecosystem with limits to its capacity and a natural need for time to recover.
This principle is reflected in environmental practices that are consistently observed, including the customary obligation to plant trees before cutting them down to maintain water absorption, as well as restrictions against excessive cultivation of the land. This way of thinking forms the foundation of agricultural activities oriented toward long-term land stewardship.
Through the Tengger Calendar, seasonal divisions, known as mangsa, provide guidance for determining crop rotation and land-management schedules. The timing of soil preparation, seed sowing, and harvesting is adjusted according to the position of celestial bodies and wind patterns. By aligning agricultural activities with these natural cycles, farmers can make better use of prevailing climatic conditions for crop growth without placing excessive pressure on the land’s carrying capacity.
One of the key ecological features of the Tengger Calendar is Mangsa Karo, a period during which nature is given time to rest. During this period, new planting activities are suspended, while communities are permitted to tend to or harvest crops that have already been planted. This natural interval allows nutrients to be replenished, helps interrupt pest cycles, and supports the recovery of soil structure.
The application of the Tengger Calendar to environmentally sustainable agriculture also contributes directly to Integrated Pest Management (IPM). By planting in accordance with astronomical cycles and appropriate natural phenomena, farmers can significantly reduce the vulnerability of crops to attacks by plant pests and diseases, known locally as Organisme Pengganggu Tumbuhan (OPT).
This approach reduces dependence on pesticides and synthetic chemical fertilizers. Instead, soil and crop health are maintained through the use of organic materials, responsible water management, and the use of natural pest predators whose life cycles have been understood through generations of knowledge associated with the calendar.
Achieving sustainable agriculture does not necessarily mean adopting new technologies disconnected from cultural roots. The integration of environmentally sustainable farming practices with the Tengger Calendar demonstrates how traditional knowledge can provide concrete and relevant guidance for agricultural practices today.
By respecting the rhythms of nature through a local calendar system, soil fertility and the sustainability of water sources can be maintained over the long term. In turn, food production can continue in a stable, safe, and sustainable manner, supporting the well-being of future generations.
