Evaluasi Rekomendasi untuk Kawasan Transmigrasi Weri-Saharey

Abstract

Regional development disparities in Indonesia continue to be exacerbated by multidimensional challenges, including food vulnerability, climate change, socio-economic inequality, and limited access to basic services and development resources. This condition reinforces the urgency for development interventions capable of enhancing the capacity of disadvantaged regions, one of which is the transmigration program as an instrument for spatial equity and socio-economic transformation. Nevertheless, the designation and management of transmigration areas are often hindered by a lack of evidence-based evaluation, limited empirical studies on the existing conditions of the areas, and the inadequate involvement of local actors—particularly indigenous communities—in planning and decision-making processes. In response to these gaps, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive evaluation based on data and community participation regarding the actual conditions of transmigration areas. This serves as a foundation for formulating collaborative governance recommendations and designing community corporate institutional models for the subsequent development stages. The research approach integrates primary and secondary data through field surveys, in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and official document reviews. Analysis was conducted to identify problem structures, socio-economic dynamics, institutional barriers, and regional development potential. The findings reveal that the Weri-Saharey transmigration area suffers from lagging infrastructure, which significantly impacts population dynamics, social mobility, and the economic capacity of transmigrant households. Issues regarding customary land rights (hak ulayat) and land ownership uncertainty are determinant factors that hinder infrastructure development and weaken the sustainability of transmigrant settlements, leading many residents to relocate. Despite this, the area possesses substantial resource potential in the forestry, plantation, agriculture, and fisheries sectors, which remain optimally unutilized due to these structural and institutional constraints. These findings affirm that transmigration maintains a strategic function as a catalyst for regional development, provided that all planning and implementation processes are aligned with customary mechanisms, the resolution of customary land rights, and inclusive governance designs. Such an approach not only strengthens the social legitimacy of the program but also enables the optimization of regional potential in a sustainable and equitable manner for both local communities and transmigrants.