Bengkulu's Poor Population Reaches 306 Thousand People, The Second Largest In Sumatra

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency of Bengkulu Province recorded that the number of poor people in the province until March 2021 reached 306,000 people or around 15.22 percent and became the area with the second most poor population in Sumatra.

The number of poor people in Bengkulu is below the province of Aceh which is recorded at 15.33 percent, followed by South Sumatra as much as 12.84 percent, Lampung as much as 12.62 percent and North Sumatra as much as 9.1 percent.

Meanwhile, nationally, Bengkulu Province is ranked sixth with the highest number of poor people after Papua Province with 26.86 percent, West Papua 21.84 percent and East Nusa Tenggara 20.99 percent, Maluku 17.87 percent, Gorontalo 15.61 percent and Aceh as much as 15.33 percent.

Head of BPS Bengkulu Province Win Rizal in Bengkulu said the number of poor people in Bengkulu had increased when compared to March 2020 which was recorded at 302,579 people or 15.03 percent.

"In March 2021, the number of poor people or residents with per capita expenditure per month below the poverty line in Bengkulu Province increased by 3,421 people compared to March 2020 conditions," said Win, quoted from Antara, Friday, July 16.

In urban areas the number of poor people in Bengkulu was recorded at 15.10 percent, an increase from March 2020 which was recorded at 14.77 percent. While in rural areas the number of poor people was recorded at 15.28 percent, an increase from March 2020 which was recorded at 15.16 percent.

According to Win, food commodities have a dominant role in the poverty line in Bengkulu, which is 74.33 when compared to non-food commodities such as housing, clothing, education, and health.

The commodity of rice gives the largest contribution to the poverty line, which is 21.10 percent in urban areas and 24.85 percent in rural areas. Then filter kretek cigarettes accounted for 14.83 percent in urban areas and 11.42 percent in rural areas.

"Meanwhile, non-food commodities that make the biggest contribution to both urban and rural poverty lines are housing, gasoline, electricity and education," Win added.

BPS Bengkulu Province also noted an increase in the poverty depth index and poverty severity index during March 2020 to March 2021.

The poverty depth index in March 2020 was 2.40 percent and in March 2021 it was 2.57 percent. Likewise, the poverty severity index increased from 0.56 percent to 0.62 percent in the same period.

In addition, the poverty line in Bengkulu for the period March 2020 to March 2021 rose 3.5 percent, from IDR 527,031 per capita per month in March 2020 to IDR 548,934 per capita per month in March 2021.