Reconstruction of Salt Farmers Indigenous Science into Scientific

Knowledge in The Salt Production Process

R.Fajar Sidik, 1, W. Puspita Hadi2

12
, Natural Science Education, Trunojoyo Madura University, Indonesia
rahmadfajarsidik@gmail.com
w_puspitahadi@yahoo.co.id

Abstract
Abstract This study was aimed to reconstruct science society into scientific knowledge in
production process of salt. It was conducted salt farmers in Padelegan and Bunder Village,
Pemekasan Regency, East Java Indonesia. The method of this study was qualitative descriptive
with retrieval of data through direct observation, questionnaries, and interviews. The obtained
data were analyzed, veryfied, reduced and reconstructed into scientific knowledge and were
interpreted. The focus of this study was tradition of salt process especially on knowledge of salt
farmer about raw materials salt and crystalization of salt. The result showed that there were
eight indigenous science from the salt production which could be recontructed into scientific
knowledge
Keywords : salt production process, indigenous science, scientific knowledge

1. Introduction
Education is an effort to empower human potential to inherit, develop and build future
civilization. One of the efforts to build civilization is by increasing surrounding environment
understanding, especially as it relates to culture as the heritage of the previous generation.
Culture will be better known if it is applied into learning activities. One of them is in the Natural
Science Education. Cultural values re local wisdom differ depending on the region of each
maisng especially Indonesia consisting of various ethnic, ethnic, and tradition. It is expected
by this process the young generation will have higher value of nationalism and proud as the
nation of Indonesia
Learning science that concerns the wisdom of local culture as the identity of the nation
and, the character and customs of local culture called learning etnosains approach. ethnosain
approach learning is very important because Indonesia consists of various tribes and various
cultures that must be preserved [10].the conservation message on the bulletin board of
Karimunjawa National Park still retains local knowledge [10], that the process of making palm
sugar can be used as a source of science learning by reconstructing indigenous knowledge to
scientific knowledge [8].almost 90% of teachers expressed an interest in developing a local
culture-based science learning model but only 20% had the ability to implement it. The lack of
teacher’s knowledge to look for examples of events that contain local wisdom indicated by the
teacher's implementation plan of learning is still little to relate to local culture. Therefore, it is
expected to integrate the values of local wisdom in science learning science learning [9]. It is
expected to be more meaningful and not textbook oriented. Integration is expected to increase
students' sensitivity to the environment. In Madura as one of the tribe in Indonesi also rich with
kahsanah culture one of them is salt.
Madura Island identifies with salt production in regional scale of East Java and
nationally. Madura is the largest salt producer in eastern and national jawa. So even today, the
island of Madura is identical as Salt Island. Salt is an important commodity because many
industries use salt as an additive. Such as food and beverage industry to chlorine and alkali
chemical industry (CAP). However, the national salt production sector is still marginalized

Presented on ICoSEd 2017, November 11th in Surabaya 258

because of the low competitiveness of human resources, small production capacity and with a
non-uniform salt quality. Until now, domestic salt production only sells for salt consumption,
while industrial salt is still imported from other countries. Iswahyudi et al (2013) the process
of salt production of the people through stages such as the provision of land (tambak), the
drainage of sea water into the land, the evaporation process of sea water, the process of
crystallization of salt, the separation of salt from the water so that the salt obtained by the
people. The residual water from the process of producing yellowish salt is then discarded (not
used) called the old water (bittern). The old water (bittern) is the wastewater of the people's
salt production process. the amount is large enough to require further management.
From the results of salt mapping in Pamekasan Regency (2012) as one of salt
production centers, it is known that the most fundamental factor that must be improved is
education, mainly directly related to the salt production process. Salt farmers still use
traditional methods in salt processing. The knowledge they get takes place from generation to
generation based on the local wisdom of the Madurese community. The actual process of salt
making without them realizing it can be studied in relation to scholarship called ethnosciences.
Etnosains is an attempt to reconstruct indigenous knowledge into scientific kwowledge.. The
process of salt production must be studied from the natural sciences underlying the production
process of chemistry and physics studies. There should be a spesific study to document and
identify the activities of ethnosains in the process of salt production so it is expected to improve
the ability of salt farmers. In addition, the results of the process of documentation and
identification of ethnosains activities become a source of natural learning that leads to
improvement of salt production and national independence. The purpose of this study was to
identify and explain the indigenous knowledge of the society in the salt production process that
is still being carried out until now despite the advance of science and technology. Salting
process is expected to be a contextual learning for students. It is also hoped that incorporating
local wisdom into science learning can spur the students to strive the driving force in improving
the welfare of the surrounding community.

2. Method
This research was conducted in Bunder village and Padelegan village, Pademawu sub-district,
Pamekasan regency. This location was chosen due to the area is salt pond land. The research
method used is ethnosain-based leather approach. The reconstruction process focuses on the
activities that people undertake on salt generation in salt ponds to be associated with science.
Data collection includes primary data collected through observation and interview techniques
while secondary data was literature study and document on salt making process. Sumarni
(2010) to ensure the level of data confidence is done in several ways: (1) conducting intensive
observation; (2) triangulation of data and methods; and (3) prepare a reference

3. Result and Discussion

Based on the results of observations and interviews to salt farmers obtained information that
the process of salt production in salt ponds done traditionally and hereditary from the ancestors.

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 Picture1. Soil Compaction Process Picture 2. 4th evaporation with geoisolator
The result of observations and interviews can be summarized in the following table
Tabel 1. Indigenous science and scientific knowledge abaout salt production process
No Question Indigenous Science
1 What do you mean by Salt usually uses for
salt? complementary seasonings.
with the Madura language
"buje"
2 What is main material of Salt obtained from sea
salt? water
3 How to make salt? Making salt is done by
evaporating seawater
Scientific Knowledge
Salt is a collection of
chemical compounds
whose main portion is
sodium chloride (NaCl)
with impurities
comprising CaSO4,
MgSO4, MgCl2
The concept of science:
elements, compounds,
ionic bonds
Salt can be obtained in
three ways: the
evaporation of sea water
with sunlight, rock salt
mining and salt water
wells.
The concept of science
Separation of mixtures,
heat transfer
Making salt is done by
several categories based
on the difference of its
NaCl content that is
evaporation by sunlight
in the salt making field,
evaporation with the heat
of fuel in an evaporator
and its salt crystallization
in a crystallizer,
electrolysis separation of
salt solution by
electrolysis process then
crystallizer with
crystallizer.
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No Question Indigenous Science Scientific Knowledge
The concept of science
crystallization
4 What are the stages Sea water evaporates and Sea water that contains
occured in the process of salt crystals various elements in the
salt production ? periodic system of
elements. Sea water as
the main ingredient of
salt making is channeled
to plots / ponds of
evaporation. When the
sea water is evaporated
then various types of salt
will form. The seawater
is evaporated to 60% of
its original volume. After
that it is poured into the
next pool until the next
stage is formed CaCO3
precipitate. After 15% of
the initial volume a
CaSO4 deposit is formed.
the next stage is the
arrangement at sea water
concentrations between
25-29oBe which will be
able to be maximum
NaCl content.
The concept of science:
Solubility and Ksp
5 Why are elections made do not know just follow the In the crystallization of
up to four stages with instructions and that has salt concentration should
levels between 25-29 oBe? often done be between 25-29oBe
because if the old water
concentration has not
reached 25o Be then
CaSO4 which will be
much settled, whereas if
more than 29oBe then
salts magnesium will
precipitate which will
cause bitterness.
The concept of science
elemental properties and
compounds
6 How to know salinity with tools purchased at the The tool used is Baume
levels in salt fields? store and do not know his meter in Baume scale.
name Baume meter is a tool
used to measure the
density of fluidized

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No Question Indigenous Science Scientific Knowledge
substances (measuring
the density of a liquid).
Baume meter scale units
are denoted by Baume
o
Be degrees. Baume of
aquades is 0. This scale is
often used to conceal the
consecration.
The concept of science:
measurement of
concentration

7 Why can salt crystals already from the first time The process of salt
occur on the 4th selection formation because there
of salt? is crystallization.
Crystallization is a
formation of solid
particles in a
homogeneous phase.
Crystalline salt is formed
from homogeneous
solution of sea water with
a concentration of 25-29
o
Be. Factors that are very
influential on the size of
crystals are the speed of
nucleation and growth
rate that is influenced by
super saturation. Super
saturation is a condition
in which the
concentration of solid
(solute) in a solution
exceeds the saturated
concentration of the
solution. Generation of
super saturation is done
by evaporation of solvent
through evaporation
process. When the
solvent in a saturated
solution is reduced the
saturated concentration of
the solution will decrease
so that the super
saturation condition is
reached and the crystals
are formed.

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 No Question Indigenous Science Scientific Knowledge
The concept of science: a
saturated and unsaturated
solution
8 What do you know about at the stage of crystalline is a new technology that
geoisolator / geomembran formation coated with uses HDPE sheeting or
in the selection of stage 4? plastic plastic with a thickness of
500 microns.
The concept of science:
polymer
4. Conclutions
Analysis of indigenous knowledge gained results that people, especially salt farmers, still
understand the process of salt making only based on the experience of previous generations.
This knowledge can actually be linked to science and can be used in learning activities. [9]
existing science learning is expected to have balance and harmony between science knowledge,
scientific attitudes applying and local wisdom developing in society. Therefore, the socio-
cultural environment of the community needs to receive serious attention in developing science
education at schools because it is hidden in the original science that is useful for human life.
Thus, it is expected that science education will really benefit the community. Nature and the
environment becomes a learning media for students.

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