Degradation of Copra quality as the result of the application of Sasi Kelapa for six months period in Waenalut Village, South Buru, Indonesia

Abstract

The research was done in Waenalut village, South Buru, Indonesia. In farming, Waenalut farmers applied sasi kelapa local wisdom which is a prohibition not to harvest coconut for certain period, generally for six months. Copra is the main products which made traditionally by smoking or asar. The research aimed to investigate the quality of copra made from coconut which was subjected to sasi. The research was carried out by field observation. The coconut samples were chosen randomly from coconut trees age 16-25 years and >30 years. The results showed that the application of sasi kelapa in six months produced crops with a variety of ages and different level of maturity. Copra which made from coconut on the group of 16-25 year old tree had content of moisture, oil, and FFA respectively were in range between 5.46-6.66%, 41.66-58.51% and 1.25-5.59%. Copra which made from coconut on the tree age group of >30 year old had content of moisture, oil, and FFA respectively were 7.70-11.52%, 48.92-63.17% and 4.52-14.45%. The coconut yield and copra in Waenalut not yet met the copra quality standard required by Indonesian National Standard.