Jakarta (ANTARA News)- President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Gilbert Houngbo has praised the Indonesian Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration for its success in implementing a village fund program.

Houngbo expressed the appreciation for the success at a limited meeting with Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group annual meetings in the resort area of Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday.

According to Houngbo, village fund program is a transformation for rural areas in which all sides receive benefits in line with IFAD`s programs to develop rural areas through agricultural programs.

"What has impressed me the most is this village fund program in which development is carried out by integrating social and economic development sectors," he said in a press statement.

IFAD will continue to communicate with the ministry as part of efforts to recommend other developing nations all over the world to follow suit, he said.

The meeting was a follow-up to the earlier meeting between the minister and IFAD in Milan, Italy, some time ago.

Accelerating rural development is a key to boosting the Indonesian economic growth. In addition to mapping potential key commodities, the ministry also encourages villages to give added value to commodities and that the living standard of villagers will improve.

"As such, the local people`s income will become larger. IFAD believes this model is a sustainable development model," Eko said.

Reporting by Indriani
Editing by Suharto

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Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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