BBPPMT Yogyakarta Reports High Public Interest in Transmigration Programme in DIY

The Centre for Training and Empowerment of Village Communities, Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (BBPPMT) Yogyakarta has stated that public interest in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) for the transmigration programme remains very high, resulting in waiting lists in every district and city in the region. Head of BBPPMT Yogyakarta Tunggak Santoso said on Monday that the number of departures each year depends heavily on the quota and the readiness of infrastructure and land from the receiving local government in the destination areas. “Interest is actually still very high. All districts have queues to register. It is just the allocation because each depends on the receiving local government, such as land readiness, house construction, and infrastructure,” said Tunggak. He stated that since the era of regional autonomy, the implementation of transmigration is no longer centralised in one ministry but rather through an inter-regional cooperation mechanism. This cooperation must be aligned between the sending districts/cities and the receiving districts/cities of transmigrants. For this year, the total placement quota from the DIY region is recorded at 15 families. Of this number, Sleman Regency received an allocation of 2 families. Regarding the destination area, the group of transmigrants from DIY this year is directed to Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi. Considering the hilly and highland contours of the Poso region, the transmigrants are projected to optimise the potential of the plantation sector, particularly coffee and cocoa commodities. Meanwhile, the areas most in demand by transmigration applicants include the Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap), Mamuju, and Central Halmahera regions. “Before departure, all prospective transmigrants are required to attend integrated training at BBPPMT Yogyakarta to equip them with land processing skills,” said Tunggak. The selection and screening process is fully delegated to the Transmigration Office at the respective district/city level. To ensure welfare during the initial placement period, the government provides facilities in the form of business land varying in size from one to two hectares depending on the receiving region’s capability, as well as 500 square metres for yard and house land. In addition, transmigrants also receive a living allowance in the form of basic necessities for one year for dry land and 1.5 years for peatland. Tunggak added that the transmigration programme has produced many success stories. A number of transmigrants’ children are now recorded as successful entrepreneurs in the water transport business, the mining sector, and as farmers exporting horticultural commodities such as oranges and durians.