Migrants, livelihoods and equity: understanding for emissions reduction in Jambi (Sumatra, Indonesia)

Abstract

Continuing carbon emissions from conversion of peatlands for agriculture or plantation industry are targets for the Government of Indonesia in achieving a break with ‘business as usual’, while maintaining national economic growth. Land use by local farmers and sponta neous migrants to the peatlands in comparison with that on adjacent mineral soils is a relevant part of the issue, with indicators of equity relevant for pro - poor, pro - investment policy design for a green economy. The study compared four types of smallhold er farming community in the Tanjung Jabung Barat district of Jambi (Sumatra, Indonesia): local farmers on mineral soils and peatland parts of the landscape, government - sponsored migrants on the mineral soils and spontaneous migrants on the peat. Focus grou p discussions and household survey were employed in the study. Average income per year per household was higher in mineral soil areas than on peat, suggesting that a shift of development towards mineral soils can be attractive for emission reduction. The i ncome of transmigration villagers was about three times that of local villagers, because they grow oil palm and rubber. The older migrants have invested in coffee agroforestry under betel palms with lower profitability than the oil palm chosen by more rece nt migrants prioritize. Equity of income is higher in the peat soil areas than in mineral soil areas, as indicated by a lower Gini ratio. Financial surplus from oil palm income for transmigration villagers is used to buy new land from the local community a nd invest in oil palm expansion, further increasing the income gaps