Translation Lexicon of Traditional Plants as Rice Substitute in Nganjuk Regency, East Java

Abstract

Nganjuk Regency, located in East Java, is known as an agricultural
production area. In the past, rice was an expensive food commodity,
leading the community to seek rice substitutes. One of the alternatives
was the utilization of various traditional plant lexicons such as tales,
gembili, uwi, garut, ganyong, gadung, suweg, and kentang ireng. The
utilization of these plant lexicons by the Nganjuk community reflects
their close connection with nature. This study aims to provide a
descriptive and qualitative depiction of the usage of rice substitute
lexicons in the culture of Nganjuk society. Research data was collected
through interviews and observations. Interviews were conducted to
understand the functions and meanings of using rice substitute lexicons
in Nganjuk society.The findings of this study provide a deep
understanding of the diversity of traditional plant lexicons used as rice
substitutes in Nganjuk Regency. It was found that mbote / kimpul,
gembili, uwi, garut, ganyong, gadung, suweg, and kentang ireng are
plants that have long been known and utilized by the Nganjuk
community as valuable sources of carbohydrates. The utilization of
these lexicons is not limited to the past but continues to the present.The
community's connection with nature is reflected in their knowledge of
these plant lexicons. The Nganjuk community has a profound
understanding of the benefits and uses of each plant. They appreciate
biodiversity and integrate this knowledge into their daily lives.
However, this research also reveals a shift occurring in the younger
generation. In the modern era, with abundant availability and the
dominance of rice consumption, these traditional plant lexicons tend to
be forgotten and less known by the current generation. This highlights
the need to preserve the knowledge and traditional practices related to
plant lexicons as rice substitutes. In this context, this research makes a
significant contribution to enriching the understanding of cultural
wealth and traditional values related to food in Nganjuk Regency.
These findings can serve as a basis for developing efforts in
preservation, education, and promotion of the use of traditional plant
lexicons as healthy and sustainable rice substitutes.