Minister Yandri Pushes for Land Utilisation in Majene to Support Thematic Villages
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister for Villages and Underdeveloped Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, has encouraged the Majene Regency Government in West Sulawesi to utilise lands in villages to support village transformation into thematic villages.
According to Minister Yandri, this step is important because it has the potential to transform villages into productive economic actors.
“Do not let the villages in Majene Regency become mere spectators in the President’s priority programmes, one of which is MBG. Just create thematic villages, map out what the potential of village A is, for example, 10 villages for tilapia, 10 villages for catfish, 10 villages for laying hens. What I mean is, do not take the needs for MBG from outside,” he said during a meeting with Majene Deputy Regent Andi Ritamariani in his office at the Ministry of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions in Jakarta on Thursday.
With thematic villages, Minister Yandri stated that Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) can create new job opportunities that can improve the welfare of local villagers.
Thus, not only will the MBG programme be successful, but the sixth Astacita of President Prabowo—building from the villages and from the bottom for economic equality and poverty eradication—can also be realised.
In addition, Minister Yandri hopes that Majene can develop village potentials by expanding into export markets. By targeting export markets, he expressed optimism that poverty alleviation and increased value addition for village farmers can be achieved.
The former Deputy Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) hopes that villages do not only act as raw material suppliers, but also as processors meeting export standards that can fulfil market or destination country expectations. Thus, the marketing of village products abroad can be expanded, and village economic activities towards local product development can increase.
“For example, we produce the raw materials, then we throw them somewhere. Once that is done, Majene no longer needs to hope for regional transfers because all its villages will surely advance,” he said.