RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Second National Congress of the Association of Village Government Officials (PAPDESI) is expected to produce recommendations to support the implementation of the government’s priority programs. The event was held at the office of the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions in Jakarta on Monday, May 11, 2026.

Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Yandri Susanto, said the recommendations from the congress would later be conveyed to relevant stakeholders and policymakers. He said the proposals are needed to ensure government programs are implemented effectively at the village level.

According to him, the recommendations are expected to help ensure that the programs of President Prabowo Subianto are properly executed and their benefits felt directly by rural communities. Several flagship programs rely on village participation for successful implementation.

Those programs include the Red and White Village Cooperative initiative, the Free Nutritious Meals program, and the People’s School program. The government views villages as key partners in expanding welfare and economic opportunities.

Yandri said villages can contribute to the Free Nutritious Meals program by transforming into thematic villages based on their agricultural potential. Examples include egg-producing villages, tilapia farming villages, fruit villages, and vegetable villages.

He explained that thematic village development is intended to optimize rural growth based on local strengths and available resources. Villages with fishery potential, for instance, can be developed into centers of tilapia production.

By becoming thematic food-producing villages, rural areas can serve as suppliers for the national meal program. Yandri said the economic benefits of the program would be felt directly by people living in villages.

Meanwhile, PAPDESI Chairwoman Wargiyati called on village heads across Indonesia to support the government’s agenda. She urged all members of the organization to help ensure the success of national development programs.