KDMP Tamanmartani Sleman Ready to Become Social Aid Distributor and Offtaker

The Tamanmartani Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) in Kalasan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, has declared its readiness to serve as a distributor of social assistance (bansos) and an offtaker of community agricultural produce, in line with government directives. Prima Shintalia, manager of the KDMP Tamanmartani outlet, stated that the cooperative is prepared to support the policy due to its close ties with the community, which can facilitate public access to government programmes. “We must be as ready as possible, so that the community can be more focused from a single point. Moreover, our location is close to the village office, making it easier for residents,” Prima said when met at the Ministry of Cooperatives office in Jakarta on Thursday. She added that channelling aid through cooperatives can also benefit the cooperatives themselves while strengthening community engagement as members. “If the government can distribute aid through cooperatives, it is more convenient, and the cooperative also gains a small profit. The number of aid recipients is not small either,” she said. Beyond supporting social assistance distribution, Prima said KDMP Tamanmartani is also ready to develop its role as an offtaker that absorbs community agricultural output. She explained that the plan would be carried out by strengthening the cooperative’s agricultural business unit, including absorbing farmers’ harvests for processing and marketing. “Farmers will deliver their unhusked rice to KDMP, and then KDMP will process it. Once processed, we can supply it to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. That is the plan going forward,” Prima said. To support this function, Prima noted that KDMP Tamanmartani already has financing sources from a partnership with the Cooperative Revolving Fund Management Agency (LPDB) and internal capital from member savings, with a total of 1,121 members. However, she acknowledged that developing the offtaker role still requires infrastructure support, particularly agricultural processing equipment such as dryers and milling machines, which require significant investment. KDMP Tamanmartani, which began operations in July 2025, already runs several business units, including a basic necessities outlet, agricultural ventures, a clinic, a pharmacy, and fish farming supported by government assistance. The cooperative also supplies goods to five Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) to support the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. A limited cabinet meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (15/7) previously decided that Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KDKMP) would become a channel for distributing social assistance, subsidised goods, and also act as offtakers for farmers’ harvests, particularly unhusked rice, rice, and maize. Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan stated that the village cooperatives serve as government infrastructure to distribute various forms of aid to the community. He added that KDKMP would also act as an offtaker when the prices of agricultural commodities such as unhusked rice and maize fall below the government-set price.