Jember Regency Hands Over Trucks and Pickups to Merah Putih Cooperative
Jember, East Java — The Jember Regency Government has handed over 23 trucks and 25 open-bed vehicles, or pickups, to support the operational activities of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative.
“The support of this fleet is part of an effort to strengthen the distribution of community production, maintain the price stability of agricultural commodities, and encourage village economic independence,” said the Regent of Jember, Muhammad Fawait, during the vehicle handover ceremony at the Jember Regency Office courtyard on Monday.
At the event, themed “Together with Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives, Building a Strong, Independent, and Prosperous Village Economy,” the Regent expressed his hope that the Merah Putih Cooperative would act as an economic driver for villages and an instrument for equitable development.
The handover was conducted alongside the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), the Department of Cooperatives and Micro Enterprises, and village governments as a form of support for the national Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative programme. This programme aims to strengthen the people’s economy and expand development equity down to the village level.
“Cooperatives play a strategic role in reducing poverty and income inequality through the strengthening of village-based economies,” he stated. He added that the philosophy of a cooperative is economic equality, the empowerment of micro-economies, and the reduction of income disparity. “Therefore, the presence of the Merim Putih Cooperative is expected to drive more inclusive and equitable economic growth.”
According to the Regent, popularly known as Gus Fawait, the cooperative was not established to compete with private businesses or local grocery stores. Instead, the cooperative is intended to fill economic gaps that have not been optimally served while strengthening the distribution chain for village commodities.
As a further strengthening measure, the Jember Regency Government will play a role in maintaining the stability of paddy prices through cooperation with Bulog (the National Logistics Agency). Through this scheme, the cooperative is expected to assist in the absorption of farmers’ harvests, ensuring that paddy prices remain in accordance with government regulations and providing better economic value for farmers.
Furthermore, the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative is also projected to become part of the supply chain for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. Leading agricultural products and village commodities will be absorbed through the cooperative to meet the needs of the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), ensuring that the economic benefits are felt directly by the village community.