Traditional Food and Medicinal Plant Processing by Local Community of Dayak Ngaju in Central Kalimantan during Covid-19 pandemic: A Qualitative Study on Indigenous Knowledge.
David Suwito (1), Suratman (2), and Erny Poedjirahajoe (3)

1 Doctoral Program on Environmental Science Gadjah Mada University
2 Faculty of Geography Gadjah Mada University
3 Faculty of Forestry Gadjah Mada University

Abstract

Tropical Peat Swamp Forests (TPSF) is a massive ecosystem located mainly in Indonesia, primarily in Central Kalimantan. These unique and fragile ecosystems have many functions for humans living in ecological, economic, and socio-cultural aspects. Dayak Ngaju in Central Kalimantan local communities have been living and utilizing the forest product and ecosystem services from peat swamp forest around their villages for generations. This study aimed to identify any forest products and ecosystem services specifically related to the food and medicinal plant and how the processing of these products during the covid-19 pandemic. The study found that foods collected from the forest consist of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and fish. Fish is the most important product from the swamp at peatland forest for local communities. There are also six medicinal plants that local people utilize to cure covid-19 in traditional ways. Fruits and vegetables are mostly packed dan processed in a simple method and primarily for daily life consumption. On the other hand, fish and medicinal plants are processed in traditional and more complicated procedures to make longer durable products. There are eight methods and outcomes of fish and three approaches to process medicinal plants before the products are distributed to the local market.

Keywords: Peat swamp forest, forest products, foods, food processing, traditional, indigenous knowledge.

Topic: Food Processing and Packaging