Cool! South Sulawesi Carves Achievements To Become The Second Fastest Region Nationally In Reducing Poverty Rates

SOUTH SULAWESI - South Sulawesi Province is the second fastest country in reducing poverty nationally for the March 2021 period.

According to data released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of South Sulawesi, the number of poor people in the area in March 2021 was recorded at 784.98 thousand people, or 8.78 percent.

Compared to September 2020, the number of poor people was 800.24 thousand people or 8.99 percent. Thus, there was a decrease in the number and percentage of poor people (P0) by 15.26 thousand people or 0.21 percent.

"Nationally, South Sulawesi succeeded in reducing the poverty rate in March by 0.21 percent and was ranked second after East Nusa Tenggara Province with a reduction in the poverty rate of 0.22 percent", said Head of BPS South Sulawesi, Suntono, quoted from Antara, Friday, July 16.

Various things underlie the reduction of poverty in South Sulawesi. One of them is growth in the agricultural sector which has an impact on increasing income in rural areas.

In the first quarter of 2021, he said, the agricultural sector grew by 7.14 percent. Because its contribution to the formation of Gross Regional Domestic Product (GDP) is around 22-24 percent.

"And more than 34 percent of the population in South Sulawesi work in the agricultural sector, so the population gets a good income so that it encourages spending or spending," he explained.

Suntono added that the development of prices reflected by inflation in March 2020 - March 2021 was relatively low at an average of 2.07 percent.

"Other explanatory facts on the employment indicators that we photographed in February 2021, the open unemployment rate in South Sulawesi fell by 0.51 percent, to 5.79 percent when compared to last August 2020", he said.

Based on the report from the Directorate General of State Treasury, Suntono said, the realization of the distribution of social assistance until March 2021 was relatively very high.

And the development of COVID-19 cases in March 2021 was reported to be lower than the previous months.

In addition to the low COVID-19 or growing agricultural sector, improved mobility and transportation activities contributed to the decline in the poverty rate.

"Because the case is low, economic activity can be excited again because people are more daring to leave their homes for economic activities", he explained.

The Acting Governor of South Sulawesi Andi Sudirman Sulaiman emphasized his commitment to continue efforts to reduce poverty.

"Alhamdulillah, as of March 2021 our poverty rate has decreased by 0.21 percent from September 2020. But of course, we continue to work on how to improve welfare and income for the community, he said,

The poverty depth index in South Sulawesi decreased from 1.650 in September 2020 to 1.489 in March 2021. The Poverty Severity Index also decreased from 0.457 in September 2021 to 0.372 in March 2021.

The data was obtained through the National Socio-Economic Survey conducted by BPS every March and September.

Andi Sudirman said that during the pandemic, it was not only focused on prevention efforts but also on recovery so that economic activity could continue.

"We want there to be a balance between controlling the spread, besides that the economy must continue to run. So a small-scale Micro Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) is carried out at the (Village/Citizens/Neighborhood Association) level, as well as accelerating vaccinations", he explained.