Orientasi Nilai Budaya Petani Tembakau di Dataran Tinggi Gayo

Abstract

The rise of noble tobacco farming is seen again today in the Gayo Highlands after it was once glorious in the 1980s. There were many things that reference ideas, motivations, values, and orientations behind them. This study analyzed the cultural value orientation of tobacco farmers in Gayo so that it continues to carry out planting practices to this day. Furthermore, this study also explored the various habits tobacco farmers have in developing tobacco, including the inheritance pattern of tobacco planting culture between generations. The research, which took the locus in Central Aceh, used a qualitative approach by referring to C. Kluckhohn's concept of "value orientation" analysis and Pierre Bourdie's concept of "habitus". The data collection techniques used were participation observation, in-depth interviews, literature studies, and document studies. Field findings showed that tobacco plants were once the primadonna of the Gayo people in the 80s, but after that began to be abandoned by the community due to economic factors. Over the last 7 years, the Gayo people have begun to look back at tobacco plants along with tobacco products, which has become one of the essential concerns of the government in developing the economy of the Gayo community. The Gayo people still practice growing tobacco because this plant does not require special treatment, the planting period is relatively short, and this plant product is easy to process.

Geliat pertanian tembakau mulia terlihat kembali saat ini di Dataran Tinggi Gayo setelah pernah jaya di era 1980-an. Tentu saja, ada banyak hal yang menjadi rujukan ide, motivasi, nilai serta orientasi yang melatarbelakanginya. Studi ini menganalisis orientasi nilai budaya para petani tembakau di bumi Gayo sehingga terus menjalankan praktek tanam hingga saat ini. Lebih lanjut, studi ini juga menggali bagaimana ragam habitus yang dimiliki petani tembakau dalam mengembangkan tembakau, termasuk pola pewarisan budaya tanam tembakau antar generasi. Penelitian yang mengambil lokus di Aceh Tengah ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan mengacu pada konsep analisis “orientasi nilai” C. Kluckhohn dan konsep “habitus” Pierre Bourdie. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah observasi partisipasi, wawancara mendalam, studi literatur, dan studi dokumen. Hasil temuan lapangan menunjukkan bahwa tanaman tembakau pernah menjadi primadona masyarakat Gayo pada era 80-an, namun setelah itu mulai ditinggalkan oleh masyarakat karena faktor ekonomi. Sejak 7 tahun terakhir, masyarakat Gayo mulai melirik kembali tanaman tembakau seiring dengan produk tembakau menjadi salah satu perhatian penting pemerintah dalam mengembangkan ekonomi masyarakat Gayo. Masyarakat Gayo masih melakukan praktek tanam tembakau karena tanaman ini tidak membutuhkan perlakuan khusus, masa tanam yang relatif singkat, dan produk tanaman ini mudah diolah.