Local wisdom and archipelago agriculture: Poverty in Maluku

Maluku is an archipelago province where its inhabitants mostly settle on small islands and conduct agricultural activities on very limited land with relatively low fertility rates. In such conditions, islanders' local wisdom in Maluku is one of the cultural values that are still manifested in their life order, which is the social capital of archipelago communities. Local wisdom is derived from society's knowledge and has a high social value in sustaining their lives when faced with all limitations and challenges. Islanders often face difficulties in marketing their agricultural products and limited transportation access to get a good education and health services. This has contributed to poverty among people living on small islands, as indicated by a poverty rate of 18.5%. Interestingly, local wisdom has been practised by communities for a long time when undertaking their agricultural activities. It is anticipated that global climate change also impacts agricultural practices undertaken by the islanders in Maluku. Therefore, this article's objectives were to (1) analyze the form of local wisdom of islanders and its impact on sustainable archipelago agriculture development, (2) suggest ways to alleviate poverty in Maluku using local wisdom as social capital. The finding suggests that local wisdom's value cannot be separated from the interactions between humans and their environment. This is a driving factor in the advancement of economic and socio-cultural aspects. Responsible marketing is another aspect that should be taken into account.