Coordinating Minister for Food Emphasises KDKMP as Government Infrastructure

The Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas), has emphasised that the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP) are not merely marketplaces, but are being established as part of the government’s infrastructure to bolster village economies.

“It should be noted that KDKMP is not just a place for selling, but rather government infrastructure to distribute all subsidised goods and assistance,” said Zulhas in Bandar Lampung on Friday.

He stated that the government is currently implementing various strategic programmes, one of which is achieving food self-sufficiency while simultaneously driving economic growth from the village level.

“The government is building KDMKP across approximately 82,000 points in villages and sub-districts throughout Indonesia,” he added.

He explained that various community needs receiving government subsidies or aid can be distributed through KDKMP, ranging from rice, fertiliser, and 3kg LPG cylinders to Stabilisation of Food Supply and Price (SPHP) rice, cooking oil, and agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan).

“Furthermore, goods delivery routes via the postal service will also be directed to KDKMP before being passed on to the community,” he continued.

As such, Zulhas noted, the existence of KDKMP is expected to assist the government in providing services while shortening the distribution chain for goods to rural populations.