BPS Records Poverty Reduction In Kulon Progo Highest In DIY

Head of BPS Kulon Progo Sumarwiyanto. (ANTARA/Sutarmi)

KULON PROGO - Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), said the poverty rate in this region fell 0.75 percent from 16.39 percent in 2022 to 15.64 percent in 2023. Head of BPS Kulon Progo Sumarwiyanto said, based on the latest National Socio-Economic Survey 2023 there is a positive trend towards poverty. "The poverty rate in Kulon Progo in March 2023 reached 15.64 percent or decreased by 0.75 percent compared to the poverty rate in March 2022. At that time the Kulon Progo poverty rate reached 16.39 percent," said Sumarwiyanto in Kulon Progo, Antara, Thursday, November 16. The poverty reduction in Kulon Progo is among the highest in DIY, when compared to other regencies/cities. Likewise, based on the last 10 years with a decrease of 7.68 percent. "However, the poverty rate in Kulon Progo is still the highest in DIY," he said. Nevertheless, continued Sumarwiyanto, the Kulon Progo poverty rate is only 0.04 percent different from Gunung Kidul. The poverty rate of Gunung Kidul in 2023 reached 15.6 percent. In terms of population, there are 70,735 residents of Kulon Progo who are said to live below the poverty line, with an income of Rp416,870 per capita per month. "If the expenditure is below that, it is said to be poor," he said. Meanwhile, Acting (Pj) Kulon Progo Regent Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti was grateful for the significant reduction in the poverty rate according to the BPS survey. Although for all DIY, poverty in this area is still the highest.

He said efforts to reduce poverty still had to be carried out, one of which was through various empowerment programs. "We have prepared many programs for that, ranging from empowerment to social assistance," said Ni Made.