MOPO’A HUTA RITUAL; The Resistance of Maize Peasants toward Agropolitan Program

Abstract

The government's mission to improve people's welfare through the maize agropolitan program has apparently only been enjoyed by farmers. Meanwhile, peasants do not move from poor conditions. Peasants are getting poorer when they follow the government's advice to implement agricultural technology. Peasants get a lot of crops but mostly to pay for agricultural facilities. In order to survive, some choose to become tenant peasant, some still apply local wisdom; held the mopo'a huta (soil fertilizing) ritual. By this ritual, peasants believe that they will get help from the spirits of nature. they will provide soil fertility and save crops from pests. In this way, peasants only get a small amount, but the cost of implementing technology is low, so peasants still receive benefits. This paper concludes that the mopo'a huta ritual is a way for peasants to resist agropolitan programs.