Jurnal Agros Vol. 13 No.

12, Januari 2011 ISSN 1411-0172

KONSEP KETAHANAN PANGAN PENDUDUK DESA SRIHARJO

KECAMATAN IMOGIRI KABUPATEN BANTUL
CONCEPT OF POPULATION FOOD SECURITY SRIHARJO VILLAGE SUB-
DISTRICT OF IMOGIRI BANTUL DISTRICT
Sulistiya*)
Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Janabadra
INTISARI
Di tingkat mikro, ketahanan pangan bukan merupakan persoalan baru, karena sudah
lama ada. Penduduk dengan kearifannya sudah lama berinisiatif mengembangkan model
ketahanan pangan sesuai kondisi sosial, ekonomi, dan budayanya. Tujuan penelitian:
mendeskripsikan konsep ketahanan pangan penduduk Sriharjo. Penelitian menggunakan
pendekatan kualitatif dengan paradigma konstruktivisme dan perspektif teoritik
fenomenologi. Pengumpulan dan analisis data bersifat nonkuantitatif. Subjek penelitiannya
adalah individu penduduk lokal. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan indepth-interview.
Instrumen yang dipakai adalah diri peneliti dengan alat bantu interview guide. Pendalaman
informasi sesuai kebutuhan untuk menjawab masalah. Teknik pengolahan data dengan
mengembangkan sistem koding dari responden, pertanyaan penelitian, dan kerangka teroritik.
Analisis meliputi: eksplanasi terhadap fenomena (etik), sinkronisasi pandangan emik dan
etik, dan rasionalisasi data. Kesimpulan: penduduk sudah memiliki survival strategy. Salah
satu lumbung hidup petani Sriharjo adalah pekarangan, namun kondisinya perlu
dikembangkan untuk diversifikasi pangan. Kemampuan penduduk untuk menghidupkan
perekonomian rumah tangga secara mandiri dari berbagai sumber penghasilan lokal telah
terbukti. Fungsi ketahanan pangan merupakan fungsi pokok pekarangan penduduk.
Kata kunci: ketahanan pangan; Sriharjo, pekarangan

ABSTRACT
At micro level, problem of food security is not new problem, because things are old.
Rural population with wisdom has long been initiated to develop models or strategies to
strengthen food security under conditions of social, economic, and cultural. Purpose this
study: describe concept of food security in Sriharjo population. Research uses qualitative
approach with constructivist paradigm and theoretical perspectives of phenomenology.
Instruments used are self own researchers with tools in form of interview guidelines.
Deepening information needed to answer research problem. Data processing techniques to
develop a coding system derived from story of respondents, research questions, and theoretic
framework. Analysis: explanation of phenomenon, synchronization between emic and ethical
views, and rationalization and abstraction of data. Conclusion: Sriharjo residents already
have and develop a kind of survival strategy that has been proven. One of things that are still
a barn yard life is Sriharjo farmers. However, the condition of the yard still needs to be
developed for the diversification of food. Ability of residents to turn economy Sriharjo
household independently from various sources of local revenue has been proven. Function of
food security is most basic function of yard Sriharjo population.
Key-words: food security; Sriharjo, yards

*)
Author’s address for correspondence: Sulistiya, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Janabadra, Tentara
Rakyat Mataram Street 55-57 Yogyakarta 55321, Phone (0274) 561039, HP. 088216292676; e-mail:
listiocgp@yahoo.com.

INTRODUCTION
It is inevitable that food is most
fundamental requirement for Indonesian
nation. Population of Indonesia has
reached 216 million inhabitants with a
growth rate of 1.7 percent per year.
This figure indicates the amount of
food that must be available. The need is
great if not offset the increase in food
production would face the problem of
latent danger that the rate of increase in
domestic production continues to decline.
Certainly if there is no effort to increase
food production would cause problems
between needs and availability with the
gap widening.
Nationally, the performance of food
showed that food production growth rate
average is negative and tends to decrease,
while the population growth rate is always
positive which means that demand
continues to increase. Performance of
national total production and demand from
year to year in major food commodities
show that the gap continues to widen, and
specifically in soybean is very alarming.
This growing gap if left unchecked the
consequences is the increasing number
of imported foodstuffs are getting bigger,
and we are increasingly dependent on
foreign countries.
Seeing the fact that if we do not
believe as an agricultural country that
relies on agriculture as the foundation of
life for most of its population, but large
food importers. This will be a constraint in
development and become a greater
challenge in achieving food self-
sufficiency for the nation of Indonesia.
Therefore, it needs serious work steps
to optimize existing resources in the
agricultural sector in order to meet
2
domestic food needs. Thus the hope of the
future, Indonesia is no longer vulnerable
to food commodities due to the influence of
price fluctuations in international
markets that can not be avoided. The low
rate of increase food production and
the continued decline in production in
Indonesia are caused by: (1) Productivity
of crops that are still low and continued
to decline, (2) Increasing the planting-
harvest acreage is stagnant and even
declining, especially in agricultural lands
productive food in Java. The combination
of the two factors above ensure
production growth rate from year to year
tend to continue to decline. To overcome
the two fundamental technical problems
that need to be made special efforts in
agricultural development for food,
especially within the frame work of
national food security program. In 1984,
had achieved food self-sufficiency
which is carved as a glorious achievement
at the time, but the ensuing years of the
slump, so the defense and national food
sufficiency increasingly threatened.
Project a million hectares of agricultural
land clearing peat land in Central
Kalimantan, the implementation of
Guidance, Inmas, Supra Insus; did not
appear to provide benefits even in the last
decade we are stuck in food gap and with
increasingly threatened national food
production and food imports serve as an
instant solution. Food import policies
that stand out as instant program to address
the lack of production actually make
farmers worse off and are powerless over
food security development system that is
not assertive. As a result of over-supply
of imported food prices often force
farmers into low yields, is not comparable
to the cost of production so that farmers

continue to bear the loss. It makes farming
no longer attractive food for farmers and
they choose other professions outside of
agriculture, so that national food security
is becoming brittle.
Basing on the above background, the
problem can be formulated as follows. The
decline of national food production ever
achieved through food self-sufficiency in
1984 occurred because of the efforts
made to maintain national food needs are
not within the framework of agricultural
development based on democracy, but
through the project approach that uses a
top-down rather than bottom-up. For
example, agricultural land clearing
project a million hectares of peat land in
Central Kalimantan, the implementation
of Guidance, Insus, Supra Insus
which only produces food gap with the
national food production is increasingly
threatened, and make food imports as an
instant solution. The situation
demonstrates the need for new approaches
in agricultural development, one of which
is model-based agricultural development-
oriented populist independence and
uneven creation of farmers' welfare
society. Related to the model, the
problem of food supply for the
population should be viewed as a whole,
comprehensive, and integrated, not just
viewed from a business perspective.
Model-based agricultural development also
further populist should include social and
cultural aspects of the farming community
in the implementation of the program. In
the perspective of nation-building, food
security should be viewed as part of
national defense. As of yet more data
reveal details about the concept of food
security of the entire community of farmers
who have diverse social and cultural
conditions in Indonesia. It is therefore
3
important to do research on the concept of
food security of local residents. Describe
the concept of food security of local
residents who live in the Village of
Bantul Regency Sriharjo Imogiri.
METHOD
This study used a qualitative
approach with a constructivist paradigm
and theoretical perspective of
phenomenology. As a qualitative
study, data collection and analysis are non
quantitative, namely in-depth interview
techniques and qualitative data analysis.
The subject of the study was the individual
from the community of local residents.
Research location in the village of Imogiri
Sriharjo Bantul, Yogyakarta, one of the
villages that had experienced severe
levels of poverty, so interesting to see how
the concept of community food security,
both past and present.
Data collection techniques using
depth-interviews. The instruments used are
themselves investigators themselves with
the tools in the form of interview
guidelines or schedule an interview. Depth
interviews were conducted on a number
of informants. Deepening the information
is needed to answer the research
problem. Data processing techniques to
develop a coding system derived from the
story of the respondents, the research
questions, and theoretic framework. The
analysis was done in three stages, namely
stage explanation of the phenomenon
which researchers armed with the
knowledge (of conduct), phase
synchronization between emic and
ethical views, and stage of rationalization
and abstraction of data.
 4

a poverty reduction program. Program to

reduce poverty conducted in synergy and
RESULTS included in education, health, agriculture,
facilities, industry and tourism, trade, etc.,
Food Development Policy. Food that lead to the increase in living standard
for humans is a primary of the disadvantaged and low income. With
need. Therefore, the fulfillment of basic this program the number of poor families
needs, both in terms of quantity decreased 15 percent in 2005. Description
and quality that is sustainable, become very of Food Security. General Concept of Food
important. Strategies needed in food Security. According to Krisnamurthi
security is to answer the question: (2003), food security is an important part
how adequate food supply for the of the fulfillment of the right to food at the
community, how to maintain the same time is one of the main pillars of
availability of it, how to distribute it, and Human Rights (Human Rights). Food
how to improve the quality of food it security is also a very important part of
produces, and also important is how food national defense. In this case the right to
prices can be affordable by the lower food should receive equal attention with
layers of society. Food security is always other human rights efforts to uphold the
associated with the agricultural sector in pillars. Famine and food shortage is the
the broad sense (fisheries, livestock, and worst form of poverty faced by the people
estates). For that purpose in creating food here hunger itself is a process of cause and
security should carefully consider the effect of poverty. Therefore, food security
potential and possible development. The development efforts can not be separated
agricultural sector is still dominant role in from issues of poverty reduction efforts. On
the formation of GDP amounted the other hand food problems associated
to 29.65 percent (in 2000) with the with poverty has also become the world's
absorption of labor is still at large, attention, especially as it has been stated in
amounting to 30.79 percent (in 2000) and the World Food Summit and Indonesia
master the lives of many people with food have a responsibility to participate actively
needs amounting to 86.72 kg per capita per contribute to eliminating hunger in the
year. Nevertheless, the general welfare of world of business.
farmers in this district is still low. This can Food security includes not only
be seen from the low rate of rice understanding the availability of adequate
consumption (less than 300 kg per capita food, but also the ability to access
per year). (including purchasing) food and the
This condition is exacerbated by a absence of food dependence on any
system of debt bondage and selling party. In this case, the farmer has a strategic
prices of agricultural products are position in food security: the farmer is the
low (below the base price). Combating food producers and farmers is also at the
poverty and its efforts. The number of poor same time that some of the largest
families in Bantul district in 2000 as many consumer groups are still poor and in need
as 18,170 households and very poor of sufficient purchasing power to buy food.
families as much as 16,874 households. To Farmers must have the ability to produce
reduce the number of poor families, within food at the same time also must have

enough income to meet their own food
needs.
In this case, although food security
at national level (as seen from the
comparison between the total production
and total consumption) relative have been
achieved, the fact that food security in
certain areas and food security in many
families are still very vulnerable. Welfare
food farmers are relatively low and
decreases when it is determining the
prospects for food security. Welfare is
determined by various factors and
limitations, among which are: (a) Some
poor farmers because it does not have any
productive factor, except for its workforce,
(b) Area of small farmers' land and are
under pressure to continue to convert, (c)
Limited access to financial services
support, (d) The absence or limited access
to information and better technology, (e)
production infrastructure (water, electricity,
roads, telecommunications) that are
inadequate, (f) The market structure is
unfair and exploitative due to noisy-
bargaining position is very weak, (g)
Inability, weakness, or ignorance of
farmers themselves.
Food Security Concept Villagers
Sriharjo. Food security can be defined as
the availability of food for the community
to an active life and healthy all the time and
every place is affordable (Soetrisno, L & D.
Ismoyowati 1998). Food does not just mean
rice, food security thus includes aspects of
diversification of production and
consumption of agricultural products, while
aspects of affordable means food can be
accessed by the public both through
markets and public granaries. Many
traditional rural institutions and customs in
rural areas relating to food security began
to disappear, for example, village granaries
5
or personal stock of farmers. Changes in
the type of rice planted, the stability of
market prices, and farmers' access to
markets more easily be the cause of the loss
of the concept of food security that
traditional villagers. Changes in the type of
rice planted, i.e. from local rice into new
varieties of rice, accompanied with the
development of cultivation technology,
resulting in a harvest can be done
throughout the year. One of the things that
is still a barn yard life is Sriharjo
farmers. However, the condition of the yard
still needs to be developed to diversify the
food in the context of food security Sriharjo
population. Results Sriharjo yard wide
range of population and has diverse uses as
well, such as: (a) for food, i.e. vegetables,
herbs, fruit, (b) building materials, namely
for roofs, floors and walls of houses, (c )
firewood in the form of fuel, (d) packing
materials, namely leaf, stem, tree bark, (e)
intermediate materials, namely worms and
caterpillars were excavated from the ground
for duck food, (f) capital, for example debt
bondage half a bunch of bananas months
prior to cooking; (g) of medicines and
seeds. From these data it appears that food
security is only one of a wide variety of
yard functions. However, it appears that the
function of food security is the most basic
function of the yard. This can be seen from
the data as follows. There are 56 kinds of
perennials, or annual that is planted in the
yard (on average), in addition to livestock
and fishponds, and soft plants /
shrubs. Average of 50 trees (12 species)
grows in the yard every peasant
family. One interesting thing is that almost
all the inhabitants of plant oil, but not all of
them to plant bamboo. The question that
arises is: why oil became Sriharjo resident
favorite plant? The answer is because the
coconut tree is a tree species that can

provide many uses for the Sriharjo
population. Functionality that is: (a) fruit
for oil production materials, grated
coconut, and fuel (shell), (b) water tapping
to make palm wine or sugar, (c) leaves can
be used for roofing materials, fuel,
packaging , and leaf, (d) the stem for
building materials and firewood, (e) of
coconut husk is used for making rope and
fuel, (f) bone leaves as contrived stick
broom-making materials, (g) The roots of
the trees used for firewood and (h), coconut
flowers can be cooked as a vegetable
complement warm. Among the various uses
of coconut trees, the Sriharjo population
generally emphasis on making use of
coconut as raw sugar. Actually, as
expressed by Soedarwono in his study of
villagers in Purworejo, that the population
has 10 coconut trees can generally pluck
coconuts a day one for all year
(Soedarwono 1971). A Sriharjo poor
farmer was not picking coconuts every day,
but they prefer to tap palm wine palm
flowers. And palm trees that are tapped
palm-juice will not produce fruit. They
were forced to choose tap palm wine from
coconut flower because only in that way
they can earn income every day.
When viewed from its contribution
to total revenue yard, palm trees can
contribute 73 percent. Related to this, it's
interesting is that the poor farmers, it turns
out coconut revenue contribution to total
revenue was also higher grounds. This
suggests that the role of the coconut tree is
important for poor farmers. Actually, make
the coconut sugar is a tough job, but it had
to be done by poor farmers because of
various reasons but the most basic reason is
because there are no other options that
could do farmers who can contribute this
income such as coconut sugar. Why work
to make coconut sugar known as a tough
6
job? According to the farmers because the
coconut trees have to climb twice a day for
tap palm-juice can flow continues. In
addition, the process of making coconut
sugar requires a lot of manpower because
during the cooking process must be waiting
by the stove a hot issue and this should be
done every day throughout the
year. Although the work of making palm
sugar squeeze a lot of labor but the results
only slightly. Moreover, when new
environmental conditions do not support,
such as the weather was overcast, heavy
rain, or sweltering heat result in lower
production of palm wine (“legen”). If the
results of research Soedarwono (1971)
among farmers in Purworejo find palm
sugar production of about 0.24 kg per tree
per day, then at Sriharjo also not much
different, which is only 0.2 kg per tree per
day. The highest yields in farmer who has
11 coconut trees is also only 2.9 kg of sugar
worth of oil per day or 3.3 kg of rice
equivalent, but even this form of gross, not
net of production costs in the form of
firewood, print, and others (Penny, DH
1984).
It is very important for coconut
Sriharjo farmers, can be seen from how
they treat coconut seedlings when will
planting. First, the time to plant them
should sit neatly; secondly, in the planting
hole sown rice with the hope of the future
will be a lot like coconut rice; third, in the
fibers embedded in the hole with the
intention that later though but not old
coconut shell ("Bathok") his hard and black
like the fibers so that when sold look old;
fourth, after the seeds are planted and then
watered with one water jars in the hope that
later on when the coconuts are tapped, the
palm-juice out a lot, as much as water is
poured; the fifth, when planted with a
prayer ("mantra ") as follows: "Nyai lan

kyai bumi, aku titip wiji, pujekno isoa
ngrida, isoa slamet sing ditandur lan
slamet sing nandur" that means: "my
mother and father's the ruler of the earth, I
entrusted the seeds with a prayer to be a lot
of results, so safe are planted and the plant
survived." (Penny, DH 1984). Other plants
in the yard in addition to coconut is still a
lot, but its role is smaller. Some plants are
rather important in increasing farmer
household income is:
Banana. Its uses include fruit can
be sold, consumed itself, or to guarantee
informal credit. Cob for vegetables, leaves
to wrap and an umbrella in the rain (now
starting to use plastic umbrella), the stem of
the stem to the rope.
“Mlinjo”. Mlinjo seeds are usually
used as an ingredient manufacture mlinjo
chips, while its leaves for vegetable, flower
fall (“Kroto”) to complement the
vegetables. Generally the results of mlinjo
sold by farmers.
Bamboo. The leaves to wrap
“tempe”, while dry for fuel, its trunk for
buildings, chairs, beds, fences, and bud for
vegetables.
Livestock business in the yard.
Livestock business that much cultivated in
the garden include: chicken, ducks, goats,
cattle, and fish. Role for family income is
relatively small. Generally, only a few
farmers are raising livestock and not all
working on it.
For Sriharjo farmers, yards are
artificial forests, land use systems both at
the equator. In it happens the natural
balance in the utilization of natural cracked,
soil, sunlight, water, and others. Although
the yard has important meaning for Sriharjo
7
farmers, but still the question: why did the
Sriharjo farmers on one side careful in
managing the field but on the other hand,
they are less carefully manage the yard, but
the yard results is more. Donations for the
family farm yard effort this Sriharjo (with
an average of 0.1 ha of yard area) reached
49 percent, while the contribution from the
field (with an average of 0.23 ha area rice
field), only 35 percent, and 16 percent
contributed by non-agricultural businesses
such as trading stalls (small), employees,
craft workers, and workers (in 1984). In an
effort yard, coconut sugar is an important
effort because it contributes 49 percent of
family income, others come from livestock
(only seven percent), and that 44 percent
comes from other businesses in the yard
(bamboo, fruits, and others). Calculated per
day, the garden contributes 2.2 kg of rice
equivalent throughout the year. Palm sugar
business to absorb 79 percent of the labor
flow to the yard. In fact, coconut sugar
business income only 51 percent of total
revenue yard effort. This is because
coconut sugar business is unique, that even
though demand continuous work but also
produce continuously throughout the day of
the year despite a small result, but it is also
because there is no other employment
options for poor farmers in Sriharjo
because of the limited land (Penny,
DH 1984).
Wet Rice. Business fields in
Sriharjo useful to produce basic food needs
of the family or subsistence, but the rice
harvest in Sriharjo only twice a year so that
only accounts for 35 percent of family
income. In Sriharjo, only 26 percent of
families who can meet the needs of rice
from the fields themselves. This means 74
percent of Sriharjo farmers should buy rice
to meet the consumption needs of his
family. Nevertheless there are also farmers

who sell rice of the crop fields, but it was
reasonably suspected that they did not
because a surplus of rice, but a kind of
family food needs strategy, because of the
price of rice that they can buy food
cheaper such as cassava or corn. Thus they
could obtain food in a number more are
expected to meet the food needs of
families. The rice they sell is often used in
part for non-food needs, like buying clothes
and fix the house.
Non-farm business. Non-farm
businesses (businesses outside the farming
business) in Sriharjo only accounted for 16
percent of family income, however this
type of work they consider to be the main
job. The low contribution of non-farm
business because of the opportunity to earn
non-farm are very limited.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
What is described above on the
condition of Sriharjo farmers related to
efforts to maintain food security, is
currently experiencing changes that tend to
be more complex. The role of family food
garden as a buffer decrease more in line
with the growing influence from outside the
changing condition is severe enough. One
of the prominent influence of factors that
influence the market conditions Sriharjo
family. Related to this, the question arises,
namely that commercialization benefit
whom? Does commercialization, the
economy can be moved automatically
village?
Indeed, according to Mosher
(1969), the market is one of the main
factors in moving agriculture. But is it
so? Because, remains to be seen readiness
of the population factor will be subject to
the market. Are you ready Sriharjo poor
families receive a market presence?
8
Whether the family was already require the
market? Similarly, Mosher (1969) states
that market (main factor), in addition to
road and extension (facilitating factors),
when it becomes available, the agricultural
development will occur. The question is,
why not visit poor families Sriharjo prosper
even more to be poor after market, roads,
and extension are maintained? According
to the research Penny DH (1984), more
than half the total population of Bantul
district in 1984 are poorer than the tens of
years ago (Raffles 1818 in Singarimbun, M
& M. Ginter 1976). Poverty is widespread
and deep in Sriharjo, this means open
economy not guarantee the prosperity of
the population.
Food security remains a serious
problem for Sriharjo poor people,
especially coupled with the difficulty of
obtaining income outside the agricultural
sector makes the population more
difficult to adequately meet its food
needs. Sriharjo residents are well aware
that food is a basic requirement of their
lives, and therefore to fulfill it done at all
costs. Various studies of the yard and
agricultural activity showed that the yard
is very large contribution to the
household economy. The second largest
contribution is from the fields.
Furthermore, residents still make efforts
to find revenue to cover the food needs of
families, by working as laborers. Quite a
few people who become harvest workers
or “derep”. One of the hamlet where the
population is very active in “derep” is a
resident of Sompok Hamlet. Almost all
the residents involved in activities
“derep”, especially to Purworejo (Central
Java). Livelihoods of most people in this
village is dry land farming. Most of the
area in the form of a dry hill, and
therefore they can only raise it when it

rains. The average agricultural land area
is far from adequate, which is only 500
square meters each household only.
When monetary crisis occurred in
1998, Indonesia's impoverished
population has increased. Absolute
poverty and relative population of
Indonesia is improving, but it turns out
the impact of financial crisis in the
countryside is not as bad as that felt in
urban areas, as seen at the hamlet
Mojohuro, Sriharjo village. The ability of
residents to turn the economy Sriharjo
household independently from various
sources of local revenue into
evidence. Currently in Sriharjo existing
rural markets, health facilities, and
technical irrigation main canal irrigation.
Sriharjo village that nearly 90
percent of its land cultivated as rice fields
and farmlands with a ratio of 45 percent
rice and 45 percent of planted rice fields
planted with crops, mainly cassava.
According Singarimbun, M & D.H.
Penny (1989) population of Miri, Sriharjo
still poor. But in 1993, the central
government stipulates that the Sriharjo
village was not poor. However, according
to BKKBN evaluation time, 40 percent of
Sriharjo villagers are still poor. Currently
in the Sriharjo village already established
farmer groups, informal savings,
cooperatives, and microfinance groups
are intended to revive the economy and
activity in the Sriharjo village velocity of
money, even Agro Ekonomika
Foundation in 1988 after studying and
comparing the progress of the village
since 1975 to 1988, provided a grant of
20 million rupiah to then be managed like
IDT funds for working capital flowering
of two percent per month. It seems that
the program is quite effective in
improving the economic lives of Sriharjo
9
residents, it is seen from the recognition
of a grant receiver who stated that he
could develop a loan fund of one million
dollars, to six million rupiah.
In the Sriharjo village now
existing cooperatives, namely
Cooperative Lester who now has a
mobile asset (capital) worth 24 million
Rupiah and is engaged in savings and
loans and the procurement of goods for
Sriharjo villagers. Residents who use the
services of this comes from the village
co-operatives located around the center of
the village. In addition to these
cooperatives, microfinance institutions
that support the life of the villagers are
gathering groups Dasawisma closer
emotionally and directly to the people.
This group works with varied lending
system that determines the rate of 10
percent per loan. So initially a citizen
who submitted loan applications assessed
by the board Dasawisma feasibility is
concerned, then processed the loan, and
citizens are obliged to repay the loans by
10 percent of its lending as much as 11
times, thus turning the money over time
the greater. Since the system is
implemented, according to reports
Mojohuro villagers, there was no longer
the practice of loan sharks and debt
bondage that made or used by the
community. Actually there are also some
banks such as BRI and BPD are located
in the downtown Imogiri district, but
local residents are reluctant to use the
services of financial institutions such as
macro complicated procedures, the need
for relatively small loans, or also because
people prefer the micro finance
institutions due to the proximity
emotionally. It could be argued that after
the 1975 welfare changes in terms of
Sriharjo village go faster than the

previous period, and this is related to
economic progress and improvement of
infrastructure in Indonesia in general (M
Singarimbun 1989). In terms of economic
progress experienced by poor people
believed that there are a lot of
progress. Some of them are dried or
thiwul eating habits in a bad season has
turned into rice as a staple food. Another
indicator is that the mobility of Sriharjo
villagers been higher. If the first residents
in Sriharjo prefer to work as farm
laborers, now they go abroad to work as a
builder, carpenter in the furniture
industry, or as migrant workers to
Malaysia, and several other countries
(listed 23 people until November 2001).
A resident revealed an interesting life
experiences. Her work as farm laborers
produce only six thousand Rupiah per
day, while spending an average of 10
thousand Rupiah per day. The secret of
what makes it still been able to survive
till now? Apparently the secret is that
besides being a farm worker he is also
raising chickens and ducks are allowed to
live wild in the yard, without intensive
maintenance. Besides, he also maintains a
number of three neighboring goat tail
with “gaduhan” system. It seems that
what is on the grounds that it is important
for Sriharjo residents as a food reserve
when they faced a deteriorating situation
or crisis due to the lack of uncertain
income. It appears that the Sriharjo
population already have and develop a
kind of survival strategy that has been
proven. Sriharjo population spend money
to fund several purposes such as when his
son was sick, pay for school purposes and
the like. So they need the money. This is
where the compound showed a huge role,
because they need the money could be
filled by selling chicken, duck, or
10
goat. As for the daily consumption of
vegetables need to be cooked can be
taken from the yard.
This is the key ability to survive
on average Sriharjo villagers. ability to
survive is based on developing “nrimo”
attitude but keep plugging away and
develop a power adjustment to a
mediocre income by way of pressing the
consumptive expenditure. There are other
strategies undertaken by comprised of
when having difficulty meeting the needs
of daily consumption. As found by Pande
(Kutanegara, PR 2002), that people will
make savings frequency of eating in a
day when conditions of food security is
threatened, that is from three times daily
to twice or even one meal a day. In this
connection, it is important to note that the
attitude of the developed does not mean
residents do not think about the future,
but instead they are very thought of their
future. This can be seen from the efforts
undertaken to save. Savings are referred
to by the people here rather than savings
in the form of money (cash), because
saving money is less urgent and not usual
for them, so the usual is the savings in the
form of livestock and trees in the yard
that could be used as cash at any time
when needed. However, the current
Sriharjo population already know and
getting accustomed to borrow money to
microfinance institutions such as informal
savings they established.
REFERENCES
Krisnamurthi, Bayu. 2003. Farmer
Empowerment agenda in the Framework
of National Food Resilience. Articles
published in the J. of People's
Economy. Th II No.7 October 2003
(www.ekonomirakyat.org).

Kutanegara, Pande Raja, 2002. Poverty,
Population Mobility, and “Derep”
Activity: Meeting Food Strategies of the
Poor in Bantul district of Yogyakarta.
Humanities XV (1) 2003.
Penny, D.H. & Menneth Ginting. 1984.
Yard, Farmers, and Poverty. GMU Press
& YAE.
Singarimbun & M. Ginting. 1976.
Sriharjo Poverty Study. YAE.
Appendix 1. Map of Bantul District and Regional Research
11
Soedarwono, 1971. Some Aspects of
Coconut Sugar Business in Purwokerto.
Agro Economic Survey. Bogor.
Soetrisno, L & D. Ismoyowati. 1998.
Rural Community Social Safety Net.
Paper presented in National Seminar on
Agricultural Empowerment Towards
Indonesia Econ. Recovery. Univ.
Wangsa Manggala and Faculty of Agric.
UGM, Yogyakarta 3-10-1998.