JAKARTA – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, attended a Working Meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday (June 10, 2026).

During the meeting, which was chaired by Vice Chairman Ridwan Bae, Minister Yandri elaborated on the actual conditions on the ground in rural areas.

"Currently, there are still 4,672 villages classified as disadvantaged and 4,694 villages as severely disadvantaged, alongside 5,758 villages that lack access to the State Electricity Company (PLN) grid," Minister Yandri stated.

These disadvantaged villages are located within 30 regencies categorized as underdeveloped regions. Furthermore, the rural poverty rate remains at 10.72 percent.

To resolve these pressing issues, the Ministry is deploying an Octahelix approach that collaborates with universities, the private sector, State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), state institutions, and international partners.

"We recognize that resolving village issues cannot rely solely on the state budget (APBN); we must partner with other sectors because we are managing 75,266 villages across Indonesia," Minister Yandri explained.

At present, the number of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDesa) has reached 47,077, with the majority operating in the trading, services, and food security sectors.

Notably, 833 BUMDesa have already become suppliers of raw materials for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, serving 950 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG). Additionally, 33 BUMDesa have taken on roles as operators of these SPPG units.

The Ministry is also heavily boosting its Export Village initiative alongside Thematic Villages, both of which are embedded within its priority programs.

"Villages are now capable of exporting directly overseas. There are currently 339 Export Villages with 59 destination countries worldwide," Minister Yandri revealed.

Minister Yandri also highlighted a 4.38 percent surge in the number of Independent Villages (Desa Mandiri) compared to previous data, where the figure stood at 17,203 villages in 2024.

In tandem with the rise of independent villages, the Ministry's data recorded an increase in the number of Advanced Villages (Desa Maju) to 23,579. This growth aligns with a contraction in the number of Developing Villages (Desa Berkembang), which now stands at 21,813.

Regarding financial planning, Minister Yandri reported that the Ministry requires a budget of IDR 5.51 trillion for the 2027 fiscal year. However, the current indicative ceiling provided is only IDR 1.78 trillion, resulting in a deficit of IDR 3.72 trillion.

Addressing this budgetary issue, Commission V of the DPR agreed to support the Ministry in advocating for an increased budget allocation in the 2027 Draft State Budget (RAPBN) to adequately fund national priority initiatives and community-based programs.

Commission V also voiced full support for the Ministry's programs and activities aimed at accelerating the development of villages and disadvantaged regions, as well as fostering rural economic expansion through the revitalization of BUMDesa.

Accompanying Minister Yandri at the meeting were Secretary-General Taufik Madjid, Director General of PEID Tabrani, Director General of PDP Nugroho Setijo Nagoro, Director General of PPDT Samsul Widodo, Head of the Information Development Agency (BPI) Mulyadin Malik, and Head of BPSDM Agustomi Masik.

Photo: Wening/Kemendes PDT 
Text: Firman/Kemendes PDT