Indigenous Knowledge on Shifting Cultivation and Sustainable Agriculture

Indigenous knowledge on shifting mountainous farm management of Arfak farmers is the original culture of Arfak people, held firm passed down to generations. This can be seen in the agricultural activities of Arfak farmers who are still applying indigenous knowledge to this day. Modernization can affect the existence and can also be a threat to the indigenous knowledge of Arfak farmers. The low level of education of farmers, the oral transfer of indigenous knowledge and the absence of written documentation of indigenous knowledge are the causes of indigenous knowledge being swept away in the flow of modernization. Apart from that, the existence of indigenous knowledge is increasingly threatened by the development of plantations and urban areas. Especially the increasing demand for land for plantations, infrastructure, settlements and mining. Based on data from the West Papua Agriculture Service, in 2017 plantation development reached 53,806 ha and mining reached 89,256 ha in the Arfak Mountains. Agricultural modernization and industrialization will certainly reduce shifting cultivation and the value of indigenous knowledge. The high biodiversity makes Arfak Mountains a conservation area and makes this region a center of highland vegetable production in West Papua. In 2021, agricultural sector contributed 33.61% to growth Arfak Mountains Gross Regional Domestic Product. This study aims to describe how Arfak farmers apply their indigenous knowledge, namely the concept of igya ser hanjob in managing land to support sustainable agricultural activities. This research uses qualitative approach with inductive methods and case study techniques to document the knowledge and experience Arfak farmers selected with the snowball technique. Data was collected through interviews and observations. This study found that sustainable land management in agricultural activities is based on the ecological concept of the Arfak people, namely igya ser hanjob. This concept regulates appropriate management areas for agriculture and ensures environment sustainability and family food. This ecological concept was socialized for generations Arfak farming family. However, in reality there is a threat of landslides in agricultural areas due to socio-economic and ecological changes in mountainous farming are of Arfak community. © 2025 Society for Innovative Agriculture, University of Agriculture. All rights reserved.