The Struggle of Farm Laborers

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 46 views

Surviving the Cycle of Poverty: A Study on Farm Laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village

Introduction

Poverty is a pervasive issue in developing countries, including Indonesia. One of the most significant forms of poverty is the inequality of social power, particularly in the distribution of assets such as land and financial resources. This phenomenon is reflected in the lives of farm laborers, who are often trapped in a lower layer of society, especially in agricultural areas. In Tanjung Mulia Village, Tanjung Morawa District, Deli Serdang, farm laborers are one of the most popular informal jobs. The limitations of assets, both in the form of land and capital, make the farm laborers continue to struggle to meet the needs of their families.

The Struggle of Farm Laborers

Farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village face numerous challenges in their daily lives. They are often forced to work long hours in harsh conditions, with limited access to resources and support. The lack of access to land and capital is a significant barrier to their economic development, making it difficult for them to improve their living standards. Despite their efforts, farm laborers continue to struggle to meet the basic needs of their families, including food, shelter, and education.

Survival Strategies of Farm Laborers

This study aims to uncover the survival strategies implemented by farm laborers in land tenants in Tanjung Mulia Village. Five farm families who have lived in this village have been the main informants in research. In addition, the Head of Tanjung Mulia Village and two agricultural landowners who rent their land to farm laborers are also involved as additional informants. Data collection is carried out through literature studies, interviews, observations, and documentation. The data obtained is then analyzed qualitatively to produce comprehensive conclusions.

The results showed that although farm laborers who rent land had implemented various strategies to survive, they were still trapped in poverty. These families seek to increase family income by actively working. The passive strategy they use includes a reduction in family expenses by applying an economical culture and changing eating patterns. In addition, the network strategy is also applied by borrowing from relatives, stalls, as well as utilizing assistance programs from the Tanjung Mulia Village Government.

Additional Analysis and Explanation

The poverty conditions experienced by farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village are not only caused by lack of access to land and capital, but also by a broader social and economic structure. Injustice in the distribution of assets and access to resources is a barrier for many farm laborers to get out of poverty.

The existence of an economical culture in the Farm Labor Family illustrates the uncertainty that always overshadows their lives. Although they try to manage expenses, limited income requires them to constantly adapt to the existing conditions. Changed eating patterns also show that they must adjust to difficult financial situations, so as to sacrifice the nutrition that should be obtained by family members, especially children.

The loan strategy of relatives and stalls is a pragmatic effort taken by farm laborers to overcome the urgent needs. Nevertheless, this strategy is often temporary and unable to provide long-term solutions to the economic problems they face. In addition, dependence on government assistance programs can create a cycle of dependence that is difficult to decide, so that it does not lead to continuous improvement in welfare.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In a broader context, this research highlights the need for the attention and intervention of the authorities to create a more just and inclusive system. Giving better access to capital and training to improve the skills of farm workers will help them not only survive, but also build a better future for their families. In addition, efforts to improve infrastructure and support from the village government will be very important to empower the farm community in the long run.

By understanding and overcoming various factors that cause poverty, it is expected that farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village can find a way out of the difficult conditions they face and change their fate for the better.

Recommendations for Future Research

This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the survival strategies of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village. However, there are still many areas that require further research. Some of the recommendations for future research include:

Investigating the impact of government assistance programs on the economic development of farm laborers
Examining the role of infrastructure development in empowering the farm community
Analyzing the effectiveness of training programs in improving the skills of farm workers
Investigating the impact of social and economic structures on the poverty conditions of farm laborers

By conducting further research in these areas, it is expected that a more comprehensive understanding of the poverty conditions of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village can be obtained, and effective solutions can be developed to address these issues.
Frequently Asked Questions: Surviving the Cycle of Poverty in Tanjung Mulia Village

Q: What are the main challenges faced by farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village?

A: The main challenges faced by farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village include limited access to land and capital, harsh working conditions, and limited access to resources and support. These challenges make it difficult for them to improve their living standards and meet the basic needs of their families.

Q: What are the survival strategies implemented by farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village?

A: The survival strategies implemented by farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village include actively working to increase family income, reducing family expenses by applying an economical culture and changing eating patterns, and borrowing from relatives and stalls. They also utilize assistance programs from the Tanjung Mulia Village Government.

Q: What is the impact of the economical culture on the lives of farm laborers?

A: The existence of an economical culture in the Farm Labor Family illustrates the uncertainty that always overshadows their lives. Although they try to manage expenses, limited income requires them to constantly adapt to the existing conditions. Changed eating patterns also show that they must adjust to difficult financial situations, so as to sacrifice the nutrition that should be obtained by family members, especially children.

Q: What are the limitations of the loan strategy implemented by farm laborers?

A: The loan strategy of relatives and stalls is a pragmatic effort taken by farm laborers to overcome the urgent needs. Nevertheless, this strategy is often temporary and unable to provide long-term solutions to the economic problems they face. In addition, dependence on government assistance programs can create a cycle of dependence that is difficult to decide, so that it does not lead to continuous improvement in welfare.

Q: What are the recommendations for addressing the poverty conditions of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village?

A: The recommendations for addressing the poverty conditions of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village include giving better access to capital and training to improve the skills of farm workers, improving infrastructure, and providing support from the village government. By understanding and overcoming various factors that cause poverty, it is expected that farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village can find a way out of the difficult conditions they face and change their fate for the better.

Q: What are the areas that require further research to address the poverty conditions of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village?

A: Some of the areas that require further research to address the poverty conditions of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village include investigating the impact of government assistance programs on the economic development of farm laborers, examining the role of infrastructure development in empowering the farm community, analyzing the effectiveness of training programs in improving the skills of farm workers, and investigating the impact of social and economic structures on the poverty conditions of farm laborers.

Q: What are the potential solutions to address the poverty conditions of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village?

A: Some of the potential solutions to address the poverty conditions of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village include providing access to capital and training, improving infrastructure, and providing support from the village government. Additionally, addressing the social and economic structures that contribute to poverty, such as inequality and lack of access to resources, can also help to alleviate the poverty conditions of farm laborers.

Q: What are the implications of this research for policy and practice?

A: The findings of this research have implications for policy and practice in addressing the poverty conditions of farm laborers in Tanjung Mulia Village. The research highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing poverty, one that takes into account the social and economic structures that contribute to poverty. It also emphasizes the importance of providing access to capital and training, improving infrastructure, and providing support from the village government to empower the farm community.