A research team from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), participating in the Patriot Expedition program, has been conducting a study on food potential in the Mentebah Transmigration Area, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, from mid-August to December. The team carries out a mission from the Ministry of Transmigration to research and analyze potential food commodities and infrastructure. The results will be used to formulate strategic recommendations for the development of the transmigration area.
The research team, led by Dr. Dwi Umi Siswanti from the UGM Faculty of Biology, consists of Dr. Ria Amelia, Laura Silka Karawina Rokhmat, Patrick Bayu Seto Nugroho, and K.H. Mahadhevy.
Reaching several villages in the area was a challenging task. Villages such as Suka Maju, Kepala Gurung, Nanga Kalis, and Kerin Nangka were difficult to access. Kerin Nangka, located about two hours from the regency capital and three and a half hours from Suka Maju, can only be reached by canoe.
According to Dr. Siswanti, Kerin Nangka requires special attention due to its high poverty levels and recurring floods, up to four times a year.
“These floods destroy rice and corn crops, forcing transmigrant residents to rely solely on kratom as their main source of livelihood,” said Dr. Siswanti in a statement to reporters on Thursday (Oct. 16).
The kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) produced in this region has a lower market price than in other areas because of limited road access and distribution routes to Putussibau. However, food insecurity has not stopped transmigrant families from pursuing education for their children.
“The encouraging news from this region is that several children from transmigrant families have managed to attend universities in Java or Pontianak, supported by scholarships from the Ministry of Transmigration or through self-funding,” she added.
Based on field surveys, community interviews, and discussions with local stakeholders, Dr. Siswanti explained that residents of the Mentebah transmigration area have endured poverty for two decades yet continue to reside in the region.
Most of the transmigrant population is of Javanese and Sundanese descent, as well as indigenous residents of Kapuas Hulu. Of the approximately 400 families initially relocated there in 2005, only about 40 families remain. The rest have returned to their home regions (such as West Nusa Tenggara and Bali) or migrated to Putussibau or Pontianak.
“We hope the Ministry of Transmigration and local government will act swiftly to follow up on the recommendations from the Patriot Expedition team, as these transmigrant communities have lived in poverty for far too long,” said Dr. Siswanti.
She further explained that analysis and recommendations for the development of Kalis Village highlighted the urgent need for road improvements, village markets, and the establishment of educational and healthcare facilities in Suka Maju and Kepala Gurung.
Severe road damage, spanning 7 km in Suka Maju and 14.74 km in Kepala Gurung, has hindered distribution, access to markets, and mobility for education and healthcare.
“Both areas have low education levels, with 45 percent of residents only graduating from elementary school and 11 percent not completing it. In the Kepala Gurung Transmigration Area, 11 percent of residents have never attended school,” she said.
In Suka Maju Village, the team recommended implementing special policies to optimize the agricultural production of rice, corn, and cassava through irrigation development and access to capital.
For Kepala Gurung, specific policies are needed to prevent urban migration and provide incentives for young families who choose to remain and manage their transmigration lands.
Meanwhile, for the Kalis Transmigration Area, the team recommended diversifying key commodities such as pineapple, kelait, and horticultural products, upgrading the local elementary school from a branch school to an independent public school, and integrating MSMEs with local cooperatives.
Training in digital marketing was also advised. The area still faces low educational attainment, with approximately 40 percent of residents having only completed elementary school or not attending school at all.
The Patriot Expedition is an initiative by the Ministry of Transmigration designed to develop inclusive, productive, and sustainable transmigration ecosystems. This program aims to address the challenges faced by underdeveloped transmigration areas, which often lack data-driven planning and the integration of local resources with robust economic institutions.
The expedition involves 2,000 participants from seven Indonesian universities, including Universitas Gadjah Mada. Before field deployment, participants received training from the Minister of Transmigration, Dr. M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, and several ministers from the Merah Putih Cabinet in Jakarta.
During the expedition, the Mentebah team collected samples of key commodities in the Mentebah Transmigration Area, such as kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), along with data on other food commodities.
They also measured environmental parameters, including temperature, humidity, salinity, light intensity, and the pH of both soil and water; collected algae samples from peatland waters; and identified endemic plants and insects.
The team also recorded infrastructure data, conducted in-depth socioeconomic and cultural interviews, and mapped resources and disaster risks across four transmigration areas. The collected data were then analyzed and discussed in a focus group discussion.
Author: Salwa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: UGM Patriot Expedition Team