Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan stated that the government is currently accelerating the completion of 30,000 physical buildings for the Merah Putih Village Cooperative in May–June as a foundation for entering the operational phase, with the provision of strategic commodities such as fertilizer, basic necessities, and 3-kg LPG cylinders, as well as strengthening the cooperative’s role as an offtaker of village MSME products. This is certainly to support President Prabowo Subianto’s food and people’s economy agenda.
“It was scheduled for May or June, and hopefully it can be completed. If it is, then operations will be necessary,” Zulhas said after a Limited Coordination Meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs office in Jakarta.
Once the physical building is complete, Zulhas said he will fill the cooperative with goods to be traded, such as fertilizer, basic necessities, and 3 kg LPG.
In addition, Zulhas also said that the Merah Putih Village Cooperative would act as an offtaker or absorber of the results from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) located in their respective villages.
“So, the President’s programs are all related to what we discussed earlier (in the meeting),” said Zulhas.
Meanwhile, the President Director (Dirut) of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota said that the number of physical buildings of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative that had been 100 percent built was 680 buildings.
The majority of completed Red and White Village Cooperative buildings are located in Java, such as Central Java, East Java, and West Java.
“Outside Java, the average is still 10-14 units,” said Joao.
He further revealed that 29,424 Red and White Village Cooperative units are still under construction. Joao aims to complete 30,000 Red and White Village Cooperative units by April 2026.
“I want the target to be 60,000–80,000 units by July. The important thing is that we are given land and everyone in the village is willing to build,” he concluded.