Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2014 Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan\n(Zulhas) has confirmed that the Merah Putih Village\/Urban-Ward\nCooperatives (KDKMP) are being prepared to serve the public ahead of\ntheir simultaneous operational launch on 15 October 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are checking the readiness of these cooperatives one by one. They\nmust be managed well, provide services to the public and ensure\nresidents directly benefit from the distribution of subsidised goods,\u201d\nZulhas said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Coordinating Minister made the remarks while inspecting three\nKDKMP cooperatives in Baki District, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java:\nPurbayan, Kadilangu and Menuran. He was accompanied by Trade Minister\nBudi Santoso and Perum Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal\nRamdhani.<\/p>\n
Zulhas said a cooperative\u2019s readiness should not be measured solely\nby whether its building has been completed and facilities are available,\nbut also by managers\u2019 ability to run the business and provide services\nneeded by the community.<\/p>\n
He explained that the KDKMP cooperatives are being prepared to\nsupport the distribution of staple goods and subsidised products,\nincluding rice under the Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP)\nprogramme, cooking oil, three-kilogramme LPG cylinders and subsidised\nfertiliser, in line with regulations.<\/p>\n
During the visit, the government also held a Low-Cost Food Movement\n(GPM), offering rice at Rp12,500 per kilogramme to help residents obtain\nfood at affordable prices.<\/p>\n
In addition to distributing staple goods, Zulhas stressed the\ncooperatives\u2019 role in helping market agricultural produce and connecting\nfarmers with Perum Bulog to facilitate paddy procurement.<\/p>\n
\u201cFarmers must not sell paddy for less than the price set by the\ngovernment. When a village has a harvest, the cooperative can buy the\npaddy at a good price\u2014Rp6,500 per kilogramme\u2014before it is taken up by\nBulog,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Through this arrangement, cooperatives are expected to give farmers\ngreater certainty of a market and reduce their dependence on\nmiddlemen.<\/p>\n
On food distribution readiness, Perum Bulog reported that 1,985 KDKMP\ncooperatives were within its service coverage. Of these, 736 had\nreceived SPHP rice services, while services for the remaining 1,249 were\nstill being arranged.<\/p>\n
The Central Java provincial government said that, as of 12 October\n2026, 64 per cent\u2014or 5,427 of the province\u2019s 8,523 KDKMP\ncooperatives\u2014were operating, while the other 3,096 were still in\npreparation.<\/p>\n
To broaden access to rural economic services, the government is also\npreparing to develop financial transaction services through BRILink,\nmaking banking services more accessible to residents and micro, small\nand medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).<\/p>\n
For logistics, the government is facilitating the provision of one\nlorry and one pick-up truck for each cooperative to support goods\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
Cooperatives are to be managed professionally, with managers\nresponsible for business operations and village heads overseeing their\nwork while ensuring members are involved.<\/p>\n
Zulhas previously said KDKMP operations would be introduced gradually\nfrom October 2026. On 15 October, the government plans to have a number\nof officials monitor cooperative activities in person.<\/p>\n
The government hopes that improved service readiness, logistical\nfacilities and governance will shorten distribution chains, broaden\naccess to staple goods, and help market agricultural produce and rural\nMSME products.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/zulhas-confirms-kdkmp-readiness-for-simultaneous-operations-on-15-october-1791903291", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }