Optimizing the Keujreun Blang Customary Institution to Support Agricultural Development and Food Security in Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines the role and integration of local wisdom embodied in the Keujreun Blang customary institution in the formulation of socio-economic policies in Aceh, particularly in the management of rice farming resources. Keujreun Blang is a traditional institution that upholds a system of values and customary rules, such as taboos or pamali, that are respected and practiced by farming groups in managing rice fields and resolving conflicts among them. Although various studies have discussed local wisdom in rural development, there is still limited research that specifically explores how customary institutions like Keujreun Blang can be strategically integrated into the public policy-making process, especially in the socio-economic domain, to achieve food security in Aceh. This research employs a qualitative approach, using data collection techniques such as in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis. The findings reveal that Keujreun Blang not only serves as a guardian of social harmony and a regulator of agricultural governance but also holds significant potential as a foundation for designing culturally rooted, inclusive, and sustainable socio-economic policies. These findings contribute new insights to the discourse on integrating local wisdom into formal policy frameworks and offer a participatory, tradition-based model that can be replicated in other regions. The study recommends that local governments adopt customary values as a foundation for planning context-sensitive policies that are responsive to local needs in achieving sustainable food security in Aceh