Exploring livelihood assets and productivity factors of Papuan nutmeg farmers: A sustainable rural development perspective

ABSTRACT This study investigates the influence of seven livelihood assets: cultural, psychological, natural, social, financial, human, and physical on the productivity of Papuan nutmeg farmers in Fakfak, West Papua. Based on a survey of 151 farmers from both coastal and mountainous districts, the analysis employs descriptive statistics, The Kruskal–Wallis Test, and structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). The results reveal that social, human, and psychological assets significantly and positively influence productivity, with social assets showing the strongest effect. Coastal farmers benefit from better access to land, resources, and traditional practices, resulting in higher productivity, while mountainous farmers face challenges such as limited resources and weaker community cooperation. Interestingly, financial and physical assets do not significantly affect productivity. The study recommends interventions focused on strengthening social networks, improving labor skills, and enhancing psychological resilience, as these strategies are likely to be more effective in improving productivity than financial or physical assistance alone.