Where are Indonesias rural poor people?
The poorest areas of Indonesia are the remote eastern islands, where 95 per cent of people in rural communities are poor. Unsustainable livelihood systems and isolation make people vulnerable to external shocks and are the principal causes of poverty, mainly in the upland areas. In many provinces in Eastern Indonesia farmers make their living by harvesting a single crop on dry land. They live in a subsistence economy and are not able to achieve food self-sufficiency through their farming activities. Many live in coastal areas that are environmentally degraded. Upland villages, which are the most disadvantaged, require development programmes adapted to their specific needs. Many of these remote areas are accessible only by boat, on foot or by small plane. The road network is in poor condition and requires major investment. The eastern provinces are also home to many indigenous communities, which are often on the margins of development processes and programmes.
