From Local Resources to Rural Livelihoods: The Social and Economic Dynamics of Traditional Brick-Making Communities in Eastern Indonesia

Yunita Klara Hutuely; Elsina Titaley; Dominggus E. B. Saija

doi:10.67412/jsgs.v1i1.60

Authors

Yunita Klara Hutuely Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia
Elsina Titaley Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia
Dominggus E. B. Saija Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.67412/jsgs.v1i1.60

Keywords:

Community-Based Production, Eastern Indonesia, Informal Labour, Local Economic Development, Local Resources

Abstract

This study examines how locally available resources are transformed into livelihood opportunities through traditional brick-making and how this process shapes the social and economic dynamics of rural communities in Eastern Indonesia. Drawing on a qualitative case study of brick-making communities in Negeri Hatu, Central Maluku, the study investigates the roles of local resources, traditional knowledge, informal labour arrangements, social relations, and market access in sustaining rural livelihoods. Data were generated through participant observation, semi-structured in-depth interviews, and documentation involving producers, workers, transport and distribution actors, buyers, community authorities, local leaders, and surrounding residents, and were analysed thematically. The findings show that traditional brick-making operates simultaneously as a livelihood strategy, a community-based production system, and a source of local economic circulation. Locally available clay functions as a productive asset, while experiential knowledge, task specialization, trust, and informal labour networks enable production with limited formal capital. The activity generates employment and household income but remains vulnerable to resource depletion, weather variability, labour constraints, production technology, fuel availability, and market access. The study advances the Local Resource–Livelihood Nexus, demonstrating that local resources do not inherently produce sustainable livelihoods; livelihood security emerges from their interaction with knowledge, labour organization, social relations, and market connectivity. The findings highlight the need for integrated interventions combining appropriate technology, skills development, market strengthening, participatory resource management, and environmental safeguards to enhance the resilience of traditional resource-based rural economies.

References

Agina, E. K., Okechukwu, I. G., Esonu, I. C., & Umeokwuaka, R. U. (2026). Blue Economy Resources, Community Participation, and Tourism Infrastructure as Predictors of Rural Tourism Development and Livelihood Sustainability in South-East Nigeria TI2 - International Journal of Development and Economic Sustainability. 14(1). https://doi.org/10.37745/ijdes.13/vol14n16179

Ahmad, M. I., Oxley, L., Ma, H., & Liu, R. (2023). Does rural livelihood change? Household capital, climate shocks and farm entry-exit decisions in rural Pakistan TI2 - Frontiers in Environmental Science. 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.857082

Andriyanto, W. A., Sandyawati, N. S., Hapsari, F. A., & Utomo, P. (2026). From Forest Resources to Household Welfare: The Mediating Role of Income and the Moderating Effect of Livelihood Diversification in the Utilization of Sappanwood (Caesalpinia sappan L.) TI2 - International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology. 16(25s). https://doi.org/10.25258/ijddt.16.25s.83

Behera, H. B., Ghosh, P., Wbes, J. K., Chakraborty, S., Das, N., & Mistri, S. (2024). The role of women in rural marketing: Empowerment and economic drivers TI2 - Asian Journal of Management and Commerce. 5(1). https://doi.org/10.22271/27084515.2024.v5.i1f.294

Cheruiyot, J. K., Kibett, J. K., Omunyin, M. E., & Kere, G. M. (2026). Socio-Environmental Determinants of Rural Livelihood Strategies: A Community-Based Participatory Study in Kericho County, Kenya TI2 - East African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources. 9(2). https://doi.org/10.37284/eajenr.9.2.4999

Derbile, E. K., Kanlisi, S. Kaba., & Dapilah, F. (2022). Mapping the vulnerability of indigenous fruit trees to environmental change in the fragile savannah ecological zone of Northern Ghana TI2 - Heliyon. 8(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09796

Dinh, T. S. (2025). Non-timber Forest Products in Bu Gia Map National Park: Local Use and Sustainable Management TI2 - Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika (Journal of Tropical Forest Management). 30(1). https://doi.org/10.7226/jtfm.31.1.34

Do, M. H., Nguyen, T. T., Halkos, G., & Grote, U. (2022). Non-farm employment, natural resource extraction, and poverty: evidence from household data for rural Vietnam TI2 - Environment, Development and Sustainability. 27(12). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02391-7

Etsay, H., Oniki, S., Berhe, M., & Negash, T. (2022). The Watershed Communal Land Management and Livelihood of Rural Households in Kilte Awlaelo Woreda, Tigray Region, Ethiopia TI2 - Sustainability. 14(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013676

G, B. Z., V, L., & T, R. (2024). Value of Ecosystem Services to Cultural Practices in Festival Celebration in Rural Communities of Northern Ghana TI2 - Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology. 23(11). https://doi.org/10.9734/ajee/2024/v23i11626

Groth, J., Seppelt, R., Sakdapolrak, P., Senbeta, F., & Hermans, K. (2023). Why smallholders stop engaging in forest activities: the role of in-migration in livelihood transitions in forested landscapes of southwestern Ethiopia TI2 - Ecology and Society. 28(1). https://doi.org/10.5751/es-14022-280152

Hahury, H. D., Saptenno, F., Batkunda, L., Louhenapessy, F. H., & Oppier, H. (2022). Tourism Development and Impacts of Local Livelihood Transition on The Highlands Of Mount Nona, Ambon Island TI2 - International Journal of Professional Business Review. 8(1). https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i1.1255

Haulle, E., Nchimbi, C. S., & Ndimbo, G. K. (2024). Engendering Rural Tourism as a Viable Strategy for Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development in the Southern Tourist Circuit of Tanzania TI2 - Sage Open. 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241285496

Hegde, H. T., Gunaga, R. P., Bhusara, J. B., Soundarva, R. L., & Thakur, N. S. (2026). Usufruct of Mahua (Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia Roxb. A. Chev.) Resources for Livelihood Enrichment of Local Communities TI2 - International Journal of Economic Plants. 13(Mar, 2). https://doi.org/10.23910/2/2026.6728

Hiwale, S. D. (2025). Environmental Issues in Rural Development: Challenges and Solutions TI2 - Humanities and Development. 20(01). https://doi.org/10.61410/had.v20i1.233

Kanneboyena, O., Suthari, S., Naidu, M. T., Sarede, G., & Nallella, S. (2023). Potential Resources of NTFPs and Socio-economic Empowerment in the Rural Economy of Telangana, India TI2 - THE JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE RESEARCH. 38(2). https://doi.org/10.32381/jpsr.2022.38.02.14

Karki, J., Matthewman, S., & Grayman, J. H. (2022). From goods to goats: examining post-disaster livelihood recovery in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake 2015 TI2 - Natural Hazards. 114(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05543-0

Kien, N. D., Dinh, N. C., & An, L. T. (2024). Understanding the Safeguarding Role of Forest Resources and Its Determinants During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia TI2 - Forest and Society. 8(1). https://doi.org/10.24259/fs.v8i1.31181

Kumar, A., Pandey, B. W., Prasad, A. S., Pathak, U., & Awasthi, A. K. (2023). Conservation and management of water resources for sustainable development in mountain ecosystem TI2 - Terrae Didatica. 19. https://doi.org/10.20396/td.v19i00.8673723

Lamidi, K. O., Adefeso, H. A., & Hofisi, C. (2025). Illegal Immigration and Race Superiority across the Globe: Lessons for the African Union TI2 - E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256817

Ligombi, N. C., Kyando, F., & Mgeni, M. I. (2025). Analyzing Challenges and Opportunities of Local Donors for Scaling up Water Supply Solutions in the Rural Areas of Tanzania TI2 - South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics. 22(1). https://doi.org/10.9734/sajsse/2025/v22i1944

Monalisa, M., Murlianti, S., Makmur, H., & Ali, A. H. (2025). Patronage, Power, and Livelihood Dispossession: A Political Ecology of Coal Extraction in East Kalimantan TI2 - KOMUNITAS: International Journal of Indonesian Society and Culture. 17(2). https://doi.org/10.15294/komunitas.v17i2.29059

Mubangizi, B. C., & Nzabona, A. (2025). Governance and Rural Livelihoods: Experiences From Southwestern Uganda TI2 - E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256816

Mugambiwa, S. (2024). Water governance and agricultural livelihoods: Navigating human-ecological systems and farmer strategies in Rural Zimbabwe TI2 - Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology. 8(6). https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v8i6.2188

Muhammad Kurnia Ramadhan, Harapan Tua Ricky Fredy Simanjuntak, A. (2023). Kualitas Pelayanan Kantor Pertanahan Kota Pekanbaru: Studi Pelayanan Alih Wilayah Sertifikat Tanah Pasca Pemekaran Kecamatan Tampan. MINISTRATE Jurnal Birokrasi & Pemerintahan Daerah, 5(3), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.15575/jbpd.v5i3.29104

Pelane, G. L., Mulalu, M. I., Mmopelwa, G., & Stone, M. T. (2023). Rural community dependency on woodland resources: the case of Foley and Makomoto settlements in Central-East Botswana TI2 - South African Geographical Journal. 105(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/03736245.2023.2167855

Ramaano, A. I. (2025a). The essence of geographic information systems (GIS) in sustainable tourism, public leadership and inclusive community participation in remote-African rural societies TI2 - Journal of Responsible Production and Consumption. 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/jrpc-10-2023-0013

Ramaano, A. I. (2025b). The rural areas conservancy sites and ecotourism-climate change quandaries: an integrated rural initiative impact on environmental sustainability and livelihoods TI2 - Tourism Critiques: Practice and Theory. 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/trc-01-2024-0002

Ramaano, A. I. (2026). Rural pursuits and local climate change influence on subsistence: a sustainable tourism approach to provincial environmental governance and sustainability targets TI2 - Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal. 37(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/meq-07-2024-0303

Razak, F., Amir, S., & Farah, R. (2025). The Role of Non-Timber Forest Products in Rural Livelihoods. 2(2). https://doi.org/10.70177/jsa.v2i2.2028

Sakthivel, S., & Kannan, A. (2023). Gender Inequality and Discrimination: A Special Case of Local Community, with Reference to Local Commons in Madurai District of Tamilnadu TI2 - Shanlax International Journal of Economics. 12(1). https://doi.org/10.34293/economics.v12i1.6831

Sun, L., Li, J., Wang, Z., Liu, W., Zhang, S., & Wu, J. (2024). Research on the Redesign of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Based on Sustainable Livelihood—The Case of Luanzhou Shadow Play Empowering Its Rural Development TI2 - Sustainability. 16(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114555

Susanti, E., Suprihatin, E., & Yanti, D. (2026). Resource Dependency and Sustainable Rural Development: The Role of Livelihoods and Regional Economic Potential in Berau, Indonesia TI2 - SENTRALISASI. 15(2). https://doi.org/10.33506/sl.v15i2.5560

Tofu, D. A., Mekuria, M. M., & Ogato, G. S. (2023). Climatic extremes’ resilient livelihoods of rural households in the Eastern Ethiopia TI2 - Agriculture & Food Security. 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-023-00446-0

Ulimboka, R., Mbise, F. P., Nyahongo, J., & Røskaft, E. (2025). Factors determining the extraction of protected area resources in Tanzania by rural and urban communities TI2 - Discover Global Society. 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44282-025-00186-5

Wang, L., Mondela, C. L., & Kuuluvainen, J. (2022). Striking a Balance between Livelihood and Forest Conservation in a Forest Farm Facility in Choma, Zambia TI2 - Forests. 13(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101631

Xu, Z., Qayum, M., Afzal, J., & Aslam, M. (2023). Availability and access to Livelihood capital assets for development of sustainable Livelihood strategies of fishermen: A case study of Manchar Lake Pakistan TI2 - Heliyon. 9(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22549

Yusriadi, Y., & Cahaya, A. (2022). Food security systems in rural communities: A qualitative study TI2 - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.987853

Zhao, X., Xiang, H., & Zhao, F. (2023). Measurement and Spatial Differentiation of Farmers’ Livelihood Resilience Under the COVID-19 Epidemic Outbreak in Rural China TI2 - Social Indicators Research. 166(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-022-03057-7