Kendari secures three locations for Merah Putih Fishermen's Village development

The Kendari City Government in Southeast Sulawesi has secured three locations for the construction of the Merah Putih Fishermen’s Village (KNMP) programme under the supporting category from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) for the 2026 fiscal year. Head of the Kendari City Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP), Makmur, stated that the programme was realised after a proposal process that began in 2025. “The realisation only came out in June 2026 through a ministerial decree. There are three KNMP programme locations for the supporting category,” Makmur said. He detailed that the three projected land locations for the KNMP construction are in Puday Village with an area of approximately 700 square metres, 2 hectares in Sambuli Village, and 600 square metres in Tondonggeu Village. Makmur explained that for the supporting category KNMP, the locations will be equipped with various activity facilities that support the management of the fishermen’s marine and fishery products. These facilities include fishermen’s supply kiosks, clean water facilities, a Wastewater Treatment Plant (IPAL), and a portable ice factory. Meanwhile, for the main or rights category KNMP, the facilities provided are far more comprehensive as they function as a centre for managing fishermen’s fishery supplies, equipped with cold storage for products, fishermen’s kiosks, a workshop, and a fishermen’s meeting hall. Makmur added that following the decree, a team from the KKP has gone directly to the field to conduct verification, location checks, and land measurements for the KNMP. “The current status is in the process of asset transfer from the Kendari City Government to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries,” he said. Head of the Fisheries Business Empowerment and Institutional Division at the Kendari City DKP, Sriwati, added that in its future management, the KNMP will synergise with the Merah Putih Village Cooperative in each respective area to boost the economy of the local coastal communities and fishermen. Through the presence of these three supporting KNMP locations, Sriwati is optimistic that the welfare of the fishing community can improve because catches and fishery production will be absorbed by the market more quickly. Furthermore, fulfilling the operational needs of fishermen going to sea will also become easier. “Because so far, the needs of fishermen, such as large quantities of ice blocks, have been somewhat difficult to obtain,” she revealed. Another convenience lies in the marketing side, where the fishermen’s fishery products can be directly absorbed by the KNMP and cooperatives, thereby accelerating the distribution process to the wider market.