Mendes: BUMDes and Kopdes must reinforce each other in the Free Nutritious Meals Programme
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, said that Village Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) must be developed in a mode of operation that reinforces one another to support the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG), so as to avoid overlap.
According to Yandri, BUMDes have long maintained operating ecosystems across various rural sectors, from thematic villages to export villages, so the government only needs to clarify rules and the coordination chain so that the roles of BUMDes and Kopdes can be differentiated while remaining integrated.
“BUMDes are already functioning; all thematic villages collaborate with BUMDes, such as the catfish village and the poultry village. BUMDes businesses also exist, so clear regulations and a clear coordination chain are needed to avoid overlap and to reinforce one another,” he said at a working meeting with Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives, which was monitored online from Jakarta on Wednesday.
Data from the Ministry of Villages shows BUMDes involvement in the MBG programme continues to rise. By March 2026, 741 BUMDes had become suppliers of raw materials for the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG), while 37 BUMDes had acted as managers of SPPG or MBG kitchens.
West Java emerged as the region with the largest number of suppliers, reaching 280 BUMDes, followed by East Java with 169 BUMDes and Central Java with 88 BUMDes.
In addition to supplying raw materials, Yandri said many BUMDes have evolved into leading players in export villages. He noted that almost all current export village actors originate from BUMDes that have successfully managed village economic potential.
“Thousands of BUMDes have succeeded; nearly a thousand have become primary MBG suppliers, and hundreds of BUMDes are MBG kitchen owners. We should just strengthen them so they do not undermine one another,” he said.
Yandri stressed that the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Mendes PDT) will continue to promote strengthening of BUMDes with business specifications distinct from village cooperatives. The move is intended so that each organisation has its own development space according to village needs.
Mendes PDT continues to focus development through the 12 Aksi Bangun Desa programme. The government ensures village funds remain available, but governance will be improved to more effectively support village economic development.
He added that the development of villages based on local potential is also being expanded, including tourism villages and export villages through cooperation with related ministries such as the Ministry of Trade.
“Export villages continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Trade. Tourism villages with incomes up to Rp3 billion are also common. Everything can be done based on village potential,” said Yandri.