Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto plans to establish 70,000 Koperasi Desa Merah Putih, literally Read and White Village Cooperatives, to stabilize rice prices and support farmers, according to National Food Agency (NFA) Head Arief Prasetyo Adi.

“These cooperatives will help ensure stable rice prices,” he said during a market visit in Jakarta with Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan and Minister of Trade Budi Santoso on Wednesday (5/3/2025).

The cooperatives will absorb rice harvests to prevent price drops in line with the government's purchase price of Rp 6,500 per kilogram set for the 2025 harvest season, according to antaranews.com.

Meanwhile, Minister of Cooperatives Budi Arie Setiadi stated that the village cooperatives will enhance rural economies by providing employment and serving as aggregators for village products.

“The initiative will involve forming new cooperatives, revitalizing existing ones, and expanding their functions,” he explained, adding that the program also aims to eliminate inefficient distribution chains that harm both producers and consumers.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)