THE SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF TRANSMIGRANTS IN PEATLAND CASE STUDY: BASARANG JAYA VILLAGE, CENTRAL KALIMANTAN

Peatlands raised challenge for the newly transmigrated residents.They worked hard to cultivate the peatlands into a more productive agricultural area (Safford & Maltby, 1998). The productivity of the tropical peatlands as agricultural areas depends on their fertility as well as the availability of water resources. Peatlands are included into marginal lands, in which fertility rate is low and acid content is high (Noor, 2012). The successful experience in managing peat in Sumatra was assumed to be a successful method and applicable to Central Kalimantan. However, the transmigrants have only been able to successfully manage the area surrounding their houses; their farmlands have not been productive.(Limin, Jentha, & Ermiasi, 2007).Moreover, the transmigrants did not have any specific background relative to the peatland cultivation. Many of them eventually gave up and returned to their places of origin. Basarang Jaya Village became one of the transmigrants destinations. During the arrival of the transmigrants, the village was characterized by peatlands, creating difficulties for the newly arriving inhabitants to cultivate them into more productive lands. In 2010, under the Decree of the General Directorate of Cultivated Fisheries 70/DJ-PB/2010, Basarang Village was established as the Pilot Area for Cultivation Minapolitan.