Red and White Village Cooperatives Become Drivers of Community Economic Integration and Food Security
Jakarta, – The government has affirmed its commitment to strengthening the community economy by accelerating the establishment of Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih). This national strategic program is part of the agenda for equitable village-based development, positioning cooperatives as centers of productive, independent, and competitive local community economic activity.
Red and White Village Cooperatives are designed not only as microfinance institutions but also as distribution centers, agricultural product offtakers, and inter-regional supply chain managers. The government is encouraging these cooperatives to become driving forces for increasing the added value of local products, strengthening the purchasing power of village communities, and serving as hubs for integration between the agricultural, trade, and small-scale industrial sectors.
President Prabowo Subianto, in his directive, emphasized that the establishment of Red and White Village Cooperatives is a concrete step towards building national economic independence from the village level.
“We are launching more than 80,000 Red and White Village and Sub-district Cooperatives. This is not just an economic program, but a national movement to realize people’s independence and revitalize the spirit of economic mutual cooperation throughout the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan stated that the implementation of the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) is now entering the institutional strengthening and verification stage for cooperatives eligible for government support.
“Of the national target, more than 100 Kopdes and Sub-district Cooperatives have met the administrative requirements and are ready to operate. The government will ensure optimal support so that these cooperatives truly become the driving force of the local economy and strengthen national food security,” he explained.
The government is also strengthening coordination across ministries, institutions, and local governments to accelerate the formation of the Red and White Village Cooperatives through a Presidential Instruction that emphasizes accelerated facilitation and training of cooperative human resources, as well as financial support through the State Budget (APBN), Regional Budgets (APBD), and Village Funds.
This program is expected to be a real stimulus to improve the quality of life of local communities, strengthen village economic resilience, and create new jobs in various productive sectors. The government invites all parties, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the private sector, and financial institutions, to collaborate to expand the program’s reach and effectiveness so that the results can be directly felt by the community.
