President Prabowo Subianto recently launched the Merah Putih Village Cooperative program in Bentangan Village, Klaten Regency, Central Java, with the objective of boosting economic independence among the people. This initiative also aims to eradicate exploitative practices by middlemen and loan sharks that have long disadvantaged farmers in rural areas. President Prabowo, drawing from his experience as Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI) since 2004, highlighted issues such as post-harvest losses due to inadequate logistics and storage facilities for farmers. Additionally, he addressed the challenges faced by farmers in accessing subsidized fertilizers, which often get caught up in bureaucratic hurdles before reaching the intended beneficiaries.
The President emphasized the need to tackle the systemic exploitation of farmers by middlemen who manipulate prices, creating financial difficulties for farmers in need of immediate cash. Due to limited access to formal credit, many farmers resort to borrowing from loan sharks who charge exorbitant interest rates. The Merah Putih Village Cooperatives are envisioned as a transformative solution to break this cycle of exploitation that has persisted for generations. President Prabowo stressed the importance of bold and decisive actions to empower farmers and promote economic sustainability in rural areas. By fostering cooperation and self-reliance within the community, the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives aim to revolutionize the agricultural sector and ensure a fairer system for farmers in Indonesia.
