Political Development Policy Based on Local Potential to Improve People Welfare in Merangin Regency, Jambi Province

Regional autonomy provides more space for regions to develop their territories so that people's welfare can be realized. This effort can be made through policies sourced from local governments, one of which is development based on local potential. This study aims to determine the politics of local potential based development policies carried out by the The Government of Merangin Regency. This study uses a qualitative research approach with the type of library research by reviewing data related to local potential, development policies and community welfare of Merangin Regency 2016-2018. Merangin Regency has the area of rubber was 132,192 hectares, oil palm covering 53,792 hectares, robusta coffee with an area of 10,860 hectares and coconut with an area of 1,658 hectares as well as being the main foundation of people work in this region (79.63%). Related to this Merangin Regency has a vision and mission that is oriented to the utilization of local potential to improve people's welfare. The establishment of BUMD is one of the strategic efforts to realize the big vision carried out by Merangin Regency