Government Prepares Integration of Dairy Cooperatives into Free Nutritious Meal Supply Chain
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Cooperatives has stated that the government is preparing the integration of dairy cooperatives into the supply chain of the free nutritious meal (MBG) programme through strengthening the role of cooperatives in the real sector and drafting supporting regulations.
Speaking at the launch of dairy cooperative strengthening at the Suka Makmur Livestock Farmers’ Cooperative (KUTT) in Pasuruan Regency, East Java, on Thursday, Koko Haryono, Expert Staff to the Minister of Cooperatives for Public Policy, said the ministry is overseeing the drafting of a presidential regulation on the operations of Merah Putih cooperatives so that dairy cooperatives are directly connected to the MBG programme ecosystem.
According to Koko, strengthening dairy cooperatives is important as part of efforts to build a food production ecosystem from upstream to downstream.
“We are ensuring that the pasteurised milk children drink is produced directly by smallholder farmers through cooperatives,” he said.
To support this, he said the government will drive the modernisation of dairy cooperatives’ facilities and infrastructure, ranging from the provision of pasteurisation machines to strengthening the cold chain, so they can supply quality fresh milk on a sustainable basis.
On the same occasion, Deputy Regent of Pasuruan M Shobih Asrori said Pasuruan Regency has enormous potential as a milk production centre.
However, he said dairy cooperatives need to transform from mere institutions that absorb farmers’ output into one of the pillars of national nutrition sovereignty through their support for the MBG programme.
Shobih also reminded farmers of the importance of literacy and scientific knowledge so that milk productivity in Pasuruan remains optimal and meets industry standards.
Meanwhile, the Chair of KUTT Suka Makmur, Evi Zainal Abidin, said East Java remains the largest contributor to national milk production, accounting for nearly 60 per cent.
He said the cooperatives present at the launch represent around 80 per cent of East Java’s milk production under the Indonesian Dairy Cooperatives Association (GKSI).
Evi also expressed hope that the government would soon issue a Presidential Instruction on Dairy (Inpres Persusuan) to strengthen the protection and empowerment of smallholder dairy farmers amid free trade competition.
According to him, strengthening dairy cooperatives is expected to enhance their role as suppliers of pasteurised milk to nutrition fulfilment service units (SPPG) within the MBG programme ecosystem.
“We hope the government does not forget that there are farmers who need a helping hand, who need to be strengthened and empowered, because dairy cooperatives are the true face of Indonesia’s people’s economy,” Evi said.