Jakarta – The government’s effort to strengthen rural community economies through the establishment of the Red and White Village Cooperative (Koperasi Desa Merah Putih) has drawn attention from academics and social observers. The cooperative is considered to have great potential to become a driving force for a collective-based rural economy, provided that it is managed transparently, professionally, and with active community participation.
A social observer from Syiah Kuala University (USK) in Banda Aceh, Firdaus Mirza, explained that the establishment of village cooperatives is essentially an effort to revive the spirit of collective economic activity that has long been part of rural community life. He noted that rural communities historically possess strong traditions of solidarity, reflected in practices of mutual cooperation and collaboration in various social and economic activities.
“The establishment of village cooperatives can be understood as the state’s effort to revive the collective economy of communities. Historically, rural communities have strong traditions of solidarity, such as mutual cooperation and collaboration in various social and economic activities,” Firdaus said.
Firdaus emphasized that the success of village cooperatives is not determined solely by government policies. He pointed out that the strength of social capital within rural communities is a key factor that determines the sustainability of cooperatives.
“Elements such as trust, involvement, active participation, and the community’s sense of ownership toward the cooperative are important factors in ensuring the sustainability of the institution,” he said.
In addition, the aspects of transparency and accountability in cooperative management cannot be overlooked. Firdaus believes that openness in financial management and cooperative activities will help maintain members’ trust and ensure the institution’s long-term sustainability.
“Transparency and accountability in cooperative management are important aspects for maintaining members’ trust. Oversight should not only come from the government but must also involve the active participation of cooperative members through social control mechanisms within the community,” he explained.
Furthermore, he noted that village cooperatives do not function solely as economic institutions but also serve as social spaces that strengthen solidarity and a shared sense of ownership among their members.
Firdaus also stressed that the success of the Red and White Village Cooperatives cannot be measured only by financial performance. According to him, indicators of success also include increased member income, high community participation in cooperative activities, growing trust in cooperative institutions, and the development of economic activities based on local potential and wisdom in each region.
With proper management and strong community participation, Firdaus believes that the Red and White Village Cooperatives can become an important pillar in encouraging rural economic independence. (*)