Rural Poverty in NTB Rises, Rice and Cigarettes Remain Key Contributors

The number of poor people in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) decreased overall in March 2026, yet rural areas experienced a contrasting rise in poverty. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of NTB, the total poor population fell to 628,000, a decline of 8,680 people compared to September 2025. However, the rural poverty rate increased from 11.02 percent to 11.08 percent during the same period, adding approximately 1,000 people to the rural poor demographic. In contrast, the urban poverty rate dropped to 11.25 percent from 11.70 percent.

Wahyudin, Head of BPS NTB, detailed that the poverty line in March 2026 was recorded at Rp606,951 per capita per month. This figure is dominated by the food poverty line at Rp460,597, while the non-food poverty line stands at Rp146,354. The data reveals that rice is the single largest contributor to the poverty line, accounting for 26.05 percent in urban areas and 29.38 percent in rural areas. Kretek cigarettes are the second largest contributor, making up 7.35 percent of the urban poverty line and 5.13 percent in rural areas. Other significant food commodities include chicken eggs and meat. The non-food contributors consist of housing, petrol, education, toiletries, and electricity.