JAKARTA – The Integrated Village Economic Transformation (TEKAD) Program is focused on affirmative action areas spanning 1,110 villages, 25 regencies, and 9 provinces.

The TEKAD program strongly aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's 6th Asta Cita (Aspiration): "Building from the Village and from the Bottom-Up for Economic Equality and Poverty Eradication."

This was stated by the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, during the opening of the National Workshop on Building Local Government Commitment in the Implementation of the TEKAD Program, Monday (May 18, 2026).

"The TEKAD program empowers communities in rural settlements through approaches tailored to their respective local potentials," Minister Yandri said.

The program also establishes thematic villages to support the government's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) initiative, creating specialized hubs such as fruit villages, poultry (egg-laying) villages, and tilapia fish villages.

Villages possessing prime commodity potentials—such as candlenut, coffee, or vanilla—are driven to become export villages, which is another flagship priority of the Ministry.

"This program is genuinely designed to elevate the economic standing of communities within the TEKAD target locations, as its goal is to bridge the developmental gap between Eastern and Western Indonesia," Minister Yandri explained.

Minister Yandri noted that village residents have visibly felt the benefits of the TEKAD program. Consequently, he plans to request the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to extend this collaborative program.

"The program will continue to target villages that hold great potential but have not yet maximized it," he added.

Minister Yandri hopes that the national workshop will yield a collective commitment to rural community empowerment and mentoring. During the event, he also inspected various products yielded by TEKAD target regions, including coffee, candlenuts, sago, and vanilla.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Village Economic Development and Investment, Tabrani, reported that the TEKAD program has reached 165,370 beneficiary households, 330,740 service recipients, and 744,165 family members.

For the 2026 fiscal year, ongoing initiatives include program execution mentoring led by professional facilitators at the village, sub-district, and regency levels. Stimulus assistance is also being provided through Demonstration Plots (Demplot), Village Technology Innovation Houses (RITD), and Investment Funds.

"Additionally, capacity building and institutional cooperation programs are underway," Director General Tabrani noted.

The event was also attended by IFAD Country Programme Manager Yumi Sakata, regional heads of TEKAD target areas, heads of local government agencies, and members of Regional Houses of Representatives (DPRD).

Accompanying Minister Yandri were the Head of BPSDM Agustomi Masik, Expert Staff Sugito, Special Staff members Fahad Attamimi and Andi Rahma, as well as senior officials within the Ministry.

Foto: Sigit/Kemendes PDT 
Teks: Firman/Kemendes PDT