Crop diversification and resettlement: Indonesian transmigration schemes

The note highlights the experience gained in one of the 'Second Stage Development Studies' organized by the Ministry of Transmigration, Indonesia, in association with the World Bank. These pilot studies address the problems which stem from over-optimistic expectations in the case of Indonesia's transmigration schemes. Many settlers have failed to achieve even self sufficiency in their new locations, and, in some areas, conflicts of interests have arisen between settlers and local people. The investigation focused on the IPUH II Partial Development Area (WPP2) in Bengkulu Province, Sumatra, where there persists a large difference between the indigenous slash and burn farming, the wetland rice cultivation customary in Java, and finally, the upland arable farming model planned for the transmigration settlements. Proposals are outlined relating to crop diversification of cropping patterns and the economic base activities of IPUH II settlement; the need for investment in infrastructure and services; and the administrative and funding requirements. Diversification is most likely to succeed if it uses the characteristics of the area, e.g., in IPUH, which is a forest area, the main proposals are for activities centred on economic trees.