A Landowning Structure Shift to the Irrigation Ecosystems in Wotan Village, Sukolilo District, Pati Regency during 2000-2015

Master Program of History, Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: ali_romdhoni@yahoo.com

Abstract

This research was triggered by the question why there was a shift in the landowning structure to the irrigation ecosystems in Wotan village, Sukolilo District, Pati Regency during 2000-2015. Through a critical history method, the research significant determinants were identified based on the success of Indonesian migrant workers (known as TKI/Tenaga Kerja Indonesia) from the Wotan village, Sukolilo District, Pati Regency who had given the birth to newly wealthy people (known as OKB/Orang Kaya Baru). These newly wealthy people bought agricultural land having good irrigation from Jratun Seluna reservoir resulted from their remittances while working abroad. This choice of investment was quite productive and effective to increase the household income leading to the improving family welfare. The success story then motivated the migrant workers from the village even some surrounding villages to do the same thing by spending their remittances to buy agricultural land and open other productive businesses. The condition then shifted the landowning structure made by the migrant workers who originally had no agricultural land and then became the owners of agricultural land. The shift of landowning structures had a positive impact on agricultural productivity because the availability of their capital tended to intensify the agriculture, especially the use of fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, they also opened and developed other productive businesses, so that the economic activities of the people of Wotan Village progressed dynamically.