Dinamika Sektor Pertanian Rakyat di Ujung Timur Jawa 1870-1970

Abstract

This article discusses the changes in farm agriculture of Besuki and examines the factors affecting its development in along-term historical perspective. Drawing upon quantitative and qualitative data, it is demonstrated that the farm agriculture of Besuki grew rapidly from thw second half of the nineteenth century and played an important role as one of the pillars of the regional export economy. Rice consistently occupied an important position in the export of Besuki, followed by tobacco from 1870s. The development of tobacco as a commercial commodity for export market from Besuki was inseparable from the good prices of product in the international market. In contrast to rice having an increasingly dominant position during the 1930s depression and tje Japanese occupation years, the position of tobacco declined steeply due to the falling prices and the loss of market caused by war blockade. Only after the independence, tobacco began to regain its importance, while the position of Besuki as a rice-producing remained unchanged and was even strengthened during the New Order period with the launching of the Green Revolution program.