THE SILAING CORN PERGEDEL TRADER: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL REVIEW (CASE STUDY: JORONGGANTIANG, NAGARI PANYALAIAN, X KOTO DISTRICT, TANAH DATAR REGENCY)

Abstract

Rapid population growth which is not accompanied by an increase in employment creates a social
problem, namely unemployment. This has made many people prefer businesses in the informal
sector because the informal sector has characteristics that do not require large capital and skills
in the business process. In this study, the informal sector is an organization that trades corn in
Jorong Gantiang, Nagari Panyalaian, X Koto District, Tanah Datar Regency. In carrying out the
trading process, the traders take advantage of the buses passing their trading area.
This study aims to describe the profile of traders and to describe how traders carry out their
trading activities every day. This study is analyzed using the gift theory proposed by Marcell
Mauss and the concept of reciprocity. The method used is qualitative descriptive with the data
collection techniques of observation, interviews and documentation. Selection of informants was
done by purposive sampling.
The results of this study indicate that there is an evolutionary process carried out by traders of
silaiang corn peddlers related to their trading activities. Where there is an agreement made by
traders with bus drivers passing the area where they trade to make it easier for them in the sales
process because they will offer their merchandise to the bus passengers so there is no need to
bother looking for potential buyers anymore. The agreement made was beneficial to both parties.
The driver's willingness to stop at the merchant's place is rewarded by giving the driver a meal
while the driver is resting and promising to help the driver when the car being used is damaged in
the merchant's area. The advantages of both parties make the relationship between the trader and
the driver good.

Keywords: Traders, bus drivers,Agreement,Giving