Local economic strategies for increasing household income in Bolaang Mongondow Selatan

The increasing need for household income in rural and coastal areas demands the formulation of targeted, measurable, and data-driven development strategies. This study aims to devise strategies to boost the income of the people of Bolaang Mongondow Selatan (Bolsel) by combining regional statistical analysis and a review of the latest literature. This study utilized secondary data from the official publications of the Bolsel Central Bureau of Statistics from 2021 to 2025, as well as the 2025 Livestock and Animal Health Statistics, further enriched by studies from international and national journals from the past five years. The review results indicate that the region’s economic structure is still supported by the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors, contributing 38.09% to the 2024 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). However, this dynamic has not yet been fully accompanied by equitable household income distribution, as the poverty line continues to rise, reaching IDR 419,865/capita/month in 2024, while food expenditure remains the dominant component of household spending structures. The analysis also shows that the most relevant income improvement strategies include local commodity downstreaming, livelihood diversification, strengthening Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and digital marketing, developing community-based tourism, revitalizing cooperatives, and improving infrastructure and market access. These strategic formulations must be implemented in an integrated manner to effectively translate regional economic growth into inclusive and sustainable increases in household income.