5 Sejarah Perkebunan Indonesia

Summary

In the 19th century, Indonesia's economy was shaped by the *kultur stelsel*, a forced labor system that required the Javanese population to cultivate export crops for the Dutch colonial government. This system caused immense hardship, poverty, and famine, despite the profits it generated for the Netherlands. In 1870, the introduction of the 'open door' policy shifted towards private investment, expanding plantations but worsening conditions for local farmers. The *Agrarian Law* of 1870 facilitated land leasing, while Indonesia's agricultural landscape changed drastically, with food production being replaced by cash crops, leading to widespread suffering and economic disparity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 19th century saw the rise of export crops in Indonesia, including tea, sugarcane, tobacco, and cinchona.
• 😀 The introduction of the Cultivation System (Kultur Stelsel) by Jean and Boslah in the 1830s aimed to fill the Dutch treasury depleted by wars.
• 😀 The Cultivation System forced Javanese farmers to grow export crops without pay, resulting in forced labor and significant suffering.
• 😀 Farmers were required to work up to 75 days a year on government plantations, leading to poverty and famine.
• 😀 The crops grown under the Cultivation System included tea, tobacco, coffee, sugarcane, and cinchona, which were sold in Europe.
• 😀 By 1833, the Netherlands began exporting tea, leading to profits, and by 1867, it reached over 967 million guilders.
• 😀 The Cultivation System faced criticism in the Netherlands and resistance from native Indonesians, leading to its gradual abolition by 1870.
• 😀 Following the abolition of the Cultivation System, a new economic policy called the Liberal Economic Policy was introduced in 1870, encouraging private investments in Indonesia.
• 😀 The 1870 Agrarian Law distinguished between 'free' and 'non-free' land, allowing land leasing to private enterprises and fostering foreign investments.
• 😀 With the Liberal Economic Policy, plantations for crops like rubber, coffee, tobacco, and sugarcane expanded, along with industries in mining and timber.
• 😀 The opening of private plantations led to a shift in the rural workforce, with many farmers becoming plantation laborers, and significant social and economic changes were imposed on native populations.

Q & A

What is the significance of the culture system (Kulturstelsel) introduced in Indonesia during the 19th century?

The Kulturstelsel, introduced by Governor General Johannes van den Bosch between 1830 and 1833, was a system where the Indonesian population, especially Javanese farmers, were forced to grow export crops for the Dutch colonial economy. It aimed to fill the depleted treasury of the Netherlands, with crops like tea, tobacco, sugar, and quinine being grown for export.

Why was the Kulturstelsel also referred to as 'forced cultivation'?

The Kulturstelsel was referred to as 'forced cultivation' because the indigenous farmers were required to grow certain crops without compensation, often working up to 75 days per year on government-owned land. This resulted in forced labor and significant suffering for the local population.

What crops were mandated under the Kulturstelsel, and where were they cultivated?

Under the Kulturstelsel, farmers were required to cultivate crops like tea, tobacco, coffee, sugar, and quinine. These crops were grown primarily in Java, with similar forced cultivation practices extending to Sumatra.

What were the economic impacts of the Kulturstelsel on the Netherlands?

The Kulturstelsel had a significant economic impact on the Netherlands, as the colonial government profited from the sale of these crops on the global market. By 1867, profits from these crops filled the Dutch treasury, leading to the growth of the banking industry, commerce, and shipping in the Netherlands.

How did the indigenous people react to the Kulturstelsel?

The indigenous population strongly resisted the Kulturstelsel, which led to criticism from humanists in the Netherlands. Over time, the system was gradually dismantled, with crops like pepper, cloves, and cinnamon being phased out by the 1860s and other crops such as sugar and coffee being removed by the early 20th century.

What was the political shift in Indonesia after the decline of the Kulturstelsel?

After the decline of the Kulturstelsel in the 1870s, Indonesia entered the era of liberal colonialism. The Dutch government implemented the 'open door policy,' which allowed private foreign investments from countries like the Netherlands, the United States, China, and Japan, leading to the expansion of plantations and mines.

What was the Agrarian Law of 1870, and how did it affect land ownership in Indonesia?

The Agrarian Law of 1870 categorized land in Indonesia into two types: land owned by the government and land owned by the people. It allowed private businesses to lease government land for up to 75 years. The law also restricted the sale of land, particularly for indigenous people, to prevent land loss.

How did the 'open door policy' impact the local economy and society in Indonesia?

The 'open door policy' led to significant foreign investment in plantation crops like rubber, coffee, tobacco, and sugar. While the economy grew, local farmers suffered as many were forced to work as plantation laborers under harsh conditions. Traditional agriculture, like rice farming, declined, and the price of rice rose, leading to poverty and famine in some regions.

What were the social consequences of the open-door policy on the indigenous population?

The open-door policy led to social upheaval as many farmers were forced to transition from subsistence farming to laboring on plantations. This shift resulted in the introduction of a wage labor system, with many farmers now working for low wages. At the same time, the introduction of imported goods increased the cost of living, further burdening the local population.

How did the Dutch colonial government justify the economic benefits of the open-door policy?

The Dutch colonial government justified the open-door policy by highlighting the profits from foreign investments, the expansion of plantations, and the overall growth of the colonial economy. The influx of capital from foreign countries helped develop infrastructure and industries in the Netherlands, while also enriching the colonial state.