Dairi Regency
Encyclopedia
Dairi Regency is a regency on the northwest shore of Lake Toba
in North Sumatra
. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 1927 square kilometre square kilometres and according to the 2000 census had a population of 271,983 people. Its seat is Sidikalang
. Just immediately south is Samosir Regency
and Pakpak Bharat Regency
.
, with the heaviest rainfall between September and May.
Dairi is bordered on its north by Southeast Aceh
and Karo
, to its south by Pakpak Bharat
, to its east by Toba Samosir
, and to its west by South Aceh
.
of 99.43. Of the population, 39.96% is under the age of 14.
, Dairi has 13 districts (kecamatan) and 131 administrative villages (desa and kelurahan).
branches in the center, and 45 seeds of rice on a stalk to the right. The shield in the centre is divided into five, four parts indicating different cash crop
s important to the area (benzoin resin
, coffee, tobacco and patchouli
), while the fifth shows a traditional Pakpak Batak house
; the house signifies protection. The five point star in the top center signifies the Pancasila-respecting habits of the Dairi people, while the mountains represent tranquility and the chains represent gotong royong
, or cooperating and collaborating. The central sharpened bamboo spear represents the Dairi people's struggle for independence.
, the people of what is now Dairi lived in traditional adat
-regulated communities, with unelected local leaders. After the arrival of the Dutch they established an ethnic-Dutch controleur to be in charge of the Dairi onder afdeling, as well as a native Indonesian demang, or lieutenant. When the Japanese occupied Indonesia
beginning in 1942, the Dairi area was also occupied; during this time, local youths were used as forced labour to build the 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) long Sidikalang road and the Dutch were removed.
After Indonesia's independence, the residents attempted to build a foundation for a new government. However, after the Dutch army recaptured nearby East Sumatra in 1947, they chose a new leader for the Dairi area. Another leader was chosen in 1949; later that year, after the Netherlands and Indonesia signed the ,
, corn, and potatoes. Approximately 6,770 tonnes of robusta coffee are produced every year, in addition to 2,639 tonnes of arabica; corn fields take up 63% of suitable farming land. Other minor trades are damar collecting, fish farming
, and rattan.
Lake Toba
Lake Toba is a lake and supervolcano. The lake is 100 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide, and 505 metres at its deepest point. Located in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a surface elevation of about , the lake stretches from to...
in North Sumatra
North Sumatra
North Sumatra is a province of Indonesia on the Sumatra island. Its capital is Medan. It is the most populous Indonesian province outside of Java. It is slightly larger than Sri Lanka in area.- Geography and population :...
. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 1927 square kilometre square kilometres and according to the 2000 census had a population of 271,983 people. Its seat is Sidikalang
Sidikalang
Sidikalang is a town in North Sumatra province of Indonesia and it is the seat of Dairi Regency....
. Just immediately south is Samosir Regency
Samosir Regency
Samosir Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Pangururan. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 1419 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 130,097.6 of 9 districts , are on the island Samosir....
and Pakpak Bharat Regency
Pakpak Bharat Regency
Pakpak Bharat Regency is a regency in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Its seat is Salak.In 2000, the regency covered an area of 1218 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 32,909....
.
Geography and climate
Dairi covers a total area of 1927 square kilometre. It is mostly hills and mountains, averaging 700 to 1250 m (2,296.6 to 4,101 ft) above sea level. It has a tropical rainforest climateTropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate, also known as an equatorial climate, is a tropical climate usually found along the equator...
, with the heaviest rainfall between September and May.
Dairi is bordered on its north by Southeast Aceh
Southeast Aceh Regency
Southeast Aceh Regency is a regency in the Aceh province of Indonesia. The regency covers an area of 4,231.41 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census had a population of 105,653 people. The seat of the regency government is at Kutacane.In 1969, the Southeast Aceh Regency was separated...
and Karo
Karo Regency
Karo Regency is a regency of North Sumatra, Indonesia. It is situated in the Bukit Barisan mountains. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 2,127.25 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 279,470. 60.99% of the regency is forested. Its regency seat is...
, to its south by Pakpak Bharat
Pakpak Bharat Regency
Pakpak Bharat Regency is a regency in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Its seat is Salak.In 2000, the regency covered an area of 1218 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 32,909....
, to its east by Toba Samosir
Toba Samosir Regency
Toba Samosir Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Balige. The regency covers an area of 3124.40 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 304,015 .-Orchid Paradise:...
, and to its west by South Aceh
South Aceh Regency
South Aceh Regency is a regency in the Aceh province of Indonesia. The regency covers an area of 3,851.69 square kilometres and according to the 2010 census had a population of 202,003 people....
.
Demographics
A 2008 estimate by the Dairi government put Dairi's population at 271,983, with a sex ratioSex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 99.43. Of the population, 39.96% is under the age of 14.
, Dairi has 13 districts (kecamatan) and 131 administrative villages (desa and kelurahan).
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of Dairi has many connotations. Indonesia's date of independence, 17 August 1945, is indicated by the 17-budded cotton plant on the left side, 8 rattanRattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
branches in the center, and 45 seeds of rice on a stalk to the right. The shield in the centre is divided into five, four parts indicating different cash crop
Cash crop
In agriculture, a cash crop is a crop which is grown for profit.The term is used to differentiate from subsistence crops, which are those fed to the producer's own livestock or grown as food for the producer's family...
s important to the area (benzoin resin
Benzoin resin
Benzoin resin or styrax resin is a balsamic resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax. It is used in perfumes, some kinds of incense, as a flavoring, and medicine . Its principal component is benzoic acid...
, coffee, tobacco and patchouli
Patchouli
Patchouli is a species from the genus Pogostemon and a bushy herb of the mint family, with erect stems, reaching two or three feet in height and bearing small, pale pink-white flowers...
), while the fifth shows a traditional Pakpak Batak house
Batak architecture
Batak architecture refers to the related architectural traditions and designs of the various Batak peoples of North Sumatra, Indonesia. There are six groups of Batak who speak separate but related languages: the Angkola and the Mandailing to the south, the Toba, and to the north the Pakpak/Dairi,...
; the house signifies protection. The five point star in the top center signifies the Pancasila-respecting habits of the Dairi people, while the mountains represent tranquility and the chains represent gotong royong
Gotong royong
Gotong-royong is a conception of sociality familiar to large parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. The phrase has been translated into English in many ways, most of which harken to the conception of reciprocity or mutual aid. For M. Nasroen, gotong royong forms one of the core tenets of Indonesian...
, or cooperating and collaborating. The central sharpened bamboo spear represents the Dairi people's struggle for independence.
History
Prior to the arrival of the Dutch East India CompanyDutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
, the people of what is now Dairi lived in traditional adat
Adat
Adat in Indonesian-Malay culture is the set of cultural norms, values, customs and practices found among specific ethnic groups in Indonesia, the southern Philippines and Malaysia...
-regulated communities, with unelected local leaders. After the arrival of the Dutch they established an ethnic-Dutch controleur to be in charge of the Dairi onder afdeling, as well as a native Indonesian demang, or lieutenant. When the Japanese occupied Indonesia
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
beginning in 1942, the Dairi area was also occupied; during this time, local youths were used as forced labour to build the 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) long Sidikalang road and the Dutch were removed.
After Indonesia's independence, the residents attempted to build a foundation for a new government. However, after the Dutch army recaptured nearby East Sumatra in 1947, they chose a new leader for the Dairi area. Another leader was chosen in 1949; later that year, after the Netherlands and Indonesia signed the ,
Economy
Farming is a large business in Dairi. Major crops in Dairi are coffee, both robusta and arabicaCoffea arabica
Coffea arabica is a species of Coffea originally indigenous to the mountains of Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula, hence its name, and also from the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia and southeastern Sudan. It is also known as the "coffee shrub of Arabia", "mountain coffee" or "arabica coffee"...
, corn, and potatoes. Approximately 6,770 tonnes of robusta coffee are produced every year, in addition to 2,639 tonnes of arabica; corn fields take up 63% of suitable farming land. Other minor trades are damar collecting, fish farming
Fish farming
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
, and rattan.