Locked within the cycle of patronage: Structural poverty in Jeneponto’s salt farming industry

The patron-client relationship in salt production in Jeneponto dates back to the colonial period and even earlier. The practice is still very strong today. If the measure is based on the spirit of the times, then there is no problem. However, today, the tenants (clients) have lived in structural and cultural poverty for generations. The urgency to reveal the contribution of landowners (patrons) to the maintenance of tenant poverty. It also reveals the opportunities for client selfmobility to escape poverty due to negative patron-clientpatron–client relations. This research isinvolves qualitative research through interview, observation, Focus Group Discussion (interviews, observations, focus group discussions (FGDs), and documentation methods. Then utilizing The concept of patron-clientpatron‒client relationships is then used from several perspectives to understand the meaning based on the basis of the Jeneponto context. We affirm that there are relationship between the patron-client relationshiprelationships and the maintenance of poverty ofamong salt pond cultivators for generations. On the other hand, patron salt ponds can also alleviate poverty if the land potential and strategies can be maximally innovated. The patron-client relationship in salt production in Jeneponto has led to the maintenance of the poverty of the cultivators. However, thethis relationship is not always considered as a practice of exploitation. There are opportunities for transformation or at least opportunities for social mobility and verticals gradually if there is an increase in knowledge and skills because the economic potential supports it in terms of land area, and dynamic environmental and social factors, not castethrough social stratification. This research is expected to inspire the government as a mediator and policy maker of empowerment interventions. While the people's salt business actors try to improve their knowledge and productivity.