South Kalimantan Governor Muhidin presented an integrated approach as\na concrete solution to curb poverty and stunting rates in his region.\nThis was stated during his speech at the National Development\nOrchestration Forum in Balikpapan on Tuesday, 5 May 2026. The forum is\npart of the 2026 Appreciation for High-Achieving Regional Governments\norganised by the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
Muhidin noted that poverty reduction achievements in South Kalimantan\nshow a positive trend. In 2024, the poverty rate stood at 4.02%,\ndropping to 3.73% in 2025, which is lower than the national average.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that some areas still have relatively\nhigh poverty rates, such as Banjar Regency and North Hulu Sungai\nRegency. As a solution, the South Kalimantan Provincial Government has\ndeveloped a flagship programme based on local potential, namely the\nIntegrated Duck Livestock System on Swamp and Dry Land (Siti Hawa\nLari).<\/p>\n
This programme combines the livestock and agriculture sectors by\nutilising the characteristics of South Kalimantan\u2019s swamp and dry lands.\n\u201cWe are promoting this programme to regencies and cities to provide duck\nrearing assistance to the community. The results have been quite\nsignificant in increasing residents\u2019 income,\u201d said Muhidin.<\/p>\n
In addition to focusing on the economy, the government is also\nintervening in the health sector to reduce stunting rates. Records show\nthat stunting in South Kalimantan decreased from 24.7% in 2023 to 22.9%\nin 2024.<\/p>\n
These efforts are carried out through strengthening the Healthy\nLiving Community Movement for Healthy, Intelligent, Creative, and\nMorally Upright Adolescents (Germas Ceria) programme, implemented in\nschool environments to build clean and healthy habits from an early\nage.<\/p>\n
Additionally, there is the Loyalty Acceleration Movement for\nSurveillance and Immunisation Performance (Galaksi) programme, which\naims to improve health service quality by providing appreciation to\nimmunisation officers and health data collection.<\/p>\n
According to him, the \u201cjemput bola\u201d or proactive approach is the key\nto success. Health workers go directly to the field to collect data,\nprovide vitamins, and administer immunisations to pregnant women,\ntoddlers, and prospective brides.<\/p>\n
Budget support is also allocated through agencies such as the Health\nOffice and other regional apparatus. Not only that, comprehensive\nsolutions also target other supporting factors, such as providing clean\nwater through the construction of Drinking Water Supply Systems (SPAM),\nimproving uninhabitable houses, and preventing child marriage through\nrelevant agencies.<\/p>\n
In the economic sector, the provincial government is strengthening\ncommunity empowerment through superior rice seed assistance, MSME\ntraining, and access to capital. One optimised instrument is the\nPeople\u2019s Business Credit (KUR) channelled through regional banks with\nguarantees from guarantee institutions.<\/p>\n
Muhidin stated that cross-sectoral synergy is the key to resolving\npoverty and stunting issues.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, the government will focus interventions on areas with\nhigh poverty rates, such as North Hulu Sungai, through strengthened\nfinancing access and development of the Siti Hawa Lari programme. \u201cThe\nprinciple is that we remain open to input and ready to be present\ndirectly among the people to ensure this programme hits the right\ntargets,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at the same forum, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima\nArya emphasised the importance of the statecraft concept or government\ngovernance in facing the current complexities of regional challenges.\nAccording to him, statecraft demands that regional heads be able to work\neffectively, quickly, and reliably in managing government and responding\nto various challenges.<\/p>\n
Statecraft, said Bima, is a concept emphasised by President Prabowo\nSubianto as a new approach in government governance. \u201cThe President\nemphasises that leaders must be competent, skilled, and intelligent.\nIntelligence alone is not enough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bima hopes that the National Development Orchestration Forum can\nproduce concrete steps to strengthen central-regional synergy,\nespecially in Kalimantan, which is becoming a strategic region with the\ndevelopment of the Archipelago Capital (IKN). \u201cThe target is that from\nthis forum, there are agendas that can be directly implemented into real\nactions,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/siti-hawa-lari-strategy-emerges-as-solution-to-reduce-poverty-and-stunting-in-south-kalimantan-1778190976", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }