On the slopes of Mount Halimun, Sukabumi Regency, lies an indigenous community named Kasepuhan Gelaralam that offers a different perspective on progress. Far from the metropolitan hustle and bustle, a group of young people from the RE-Agent community visited this location to understand that energy sovereignty and food security are ultimately rooted in how humans maintain a harmonious relationship with the universe.
For the indigenous people here, energy is not limited to electricity or fossil fuels. Rice, leuit (storage barns), and the forest are the primary elements that sustain life. Their farming system is governed by the traditional institution Rorokan Pamakayaan, which sets the planting schedule based on constellations. This practice is not merely a technical matter, but a form of respect for nature manifested through traditional rituals from the planting season to the grand harvest.
Abah Ugi, the Customary Leader of Kasepuhan Gelaralam, emphasized that the principle of farming once a year is a strategy to give the soil a break so it does not degrade from overexploitation. Rice, which is considered a symbol of respect for Nyi Pohaci, is not treated as a commercial commodity, but as a community food reserve safely stored in the leuit to guarantee long-term food sovereignty.
The valuable lesson from Gelaralam challenges modern development paradigms that tend to rely on acceleration and massive exploitation. In this traditional village, progress is defined as the ability to know when to stop, respecting natural rhythms, and ensuring that natural resources remain preserved for future generations. This approach proves that sustainable prosperity is born from the awareness to maintain balance, not just to boost production.
