Eastern region's population growing too fast: Report<\/p>\n
By Deborah Cameron<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): New research by Indonesian and Australian
\ndemographers has found that the population of Indonesia's poorest
\nregion is expected to grow by 48 percent by 2020, presenting
\nplanning problems and major economic challenges for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A report released last week in Jakarta called People, Land and
\nSea -- Development Challenges in eastern Indonesia, says that
\ninfrastructure, environmental protection, the human resource base
\nand job opportunities all need to improve to cope with predicted
\npopulation growth.<\/p>\n
Prepared by the Indonesia-Australia Population-Related
\nResearch for Development Planning and Development Assistance
\nProject, the 174-page report is the collaborative effort of
\nsenior demographers from both countries funded by AusAID.<\/p>\n
It recommends changes to Indonesia's criteria for allocating
\ndevelopment funding and questions central government policies
\nwhich hold back development.<\/p>\n
The report says that development funds should be given on the
\nbasis of "unexploited regional potential" and not provincial
\npopulation size, a change that would deter provinces such as
\nMaluku and Irian Jaya from seeking larger populations without
\nconsidering sustainability.<\/p>\n
The authors say that accelerated population growth results
\nfrom the positive developments of improved health care and
\nlowered mortality. But this has resulted in a state of dynamic
\ndisequilibrium. In terms of population and development,
\n"maintenance of the status quo is not an option," the report
\nsays.<\/p>\n
"Changes are occurring and will inevitably occur in all
\naspects of life, and managing them in the interests of maximizing
\nwelfare is the challenge facing planners."<\/p>\n
The report underlines what it describes as the "basic problem"
\nof central government policies holding back regional development
\nand cites as an example of policies that govern the processing of
\ntree crops which, in effect, tax producers at source and protect
\nthe interest of consumers, largely in Java.<\/p>\n
"Thus copra has to be processed by coconut oil producers in
\nJava, and rattan may not be processed at source but instead must
\nbe sent to Surabaya," the report says.<\/p>\n
There are also central government policies restricting the
\nsale of coffee, rubber and cloves, all of which harm local
\neconomies.<\/p>\n
eastern Indonesia has a key need for dedicated government
\nofficials to be located where their services are needed and the
\nreport recommends provisions to encourage transfers by public
\nservants and hardship allowances for teachers, doctors and
\nnurses.<\/p>\n
It also recommends that international air and sea links be
\nopened to the region and that tourism investment be encouraged.<\/p>\n
"The development of eastern Indonesia has a great deal to do
\nwith its international relations," the report says.<\/p>\n
"Its slow development to date has much to do with its status
\nas 'the end of the line', isolated from Jakarta and with few
\ninternational contacts until recent times. Potentially though, it
\nis a gateway to the world, lying in close proximity to Australia,
\nPapua New Guinea and the Philippines."<\/p>\n
People, Land and Sea is a collaboration between the Center for
\nPopulation and Manpower Studies at the Indonesian Academy of
\nSciences (PPT-LIPI) and the Demography Program Research School of
\nSocial Sciences at the Australian National University. The
\nproject is funded by the Australian Agency for International
\nDevelopment, AusAID.<\/p>\n
The five provinces of eastern Indonesia -- Nusa Tenggara
\nBarat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Timor Timur, Maluku and Irian Jaya --
\nhave a current population of 12 million people spread over a
\nlandscape that varies from dense jungle to dry slopes. The
\nprovinces also include some of the archipelago's most fragile
\necosystems.<\/p>\n
The report editors were the coordinator of the demography
\nprogram at ANU, professor Gavin Jones, and the director of the
\nCenter for Population and Manpower Studies at LIPI, Dr. Yulfita
\nRaharjo.<\/p>\n
AusAID, the official Australian government aid agency,
\nannually provides about A$130 million in development assistance
\nto Indonesia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eastern-regions-population-growing-too-fast-report-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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