Recruitment of Kopdes Managers: Zulhas Calls It the Largest Village-Level Human Resources Investment
Coordinating Minister for Food and National Selection Committee Advisor Zulkifli Hasan stated that the recruitment of managers for the Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) represents the largest human resources (HR) investment ever undertaken by the government at the village level. According to Zulkifli, the programme is designed to involve the younger generation in building new economic growth centres in villages and coastal areas.
“And this will serve as the spearhead of the people’s food security; they will cut out the middlemen chain that has long disadvantaged farmers and communities,” Zulkifli said during a press conference at his office in Jakarta some time ago.
The government opened 30,000 positions for Kopdes Merah Putih managers starting from 15 April 2026. Until the registration closure on 24 April 2026, the number of applicants reached 639,732 people.
From the total applicants, 487,819 people submitted complete administrative documents, and 483,648 applicants were declared to have passed the administrative selection. Currently, the selection process has entered the competency test stage, which will take place from 3 to 12 May 2026 using a computer-assisted test (CAT) system at 72 locations across Indonesia.
Zulkifli emphasised that the national selection committee will oversee the recruitment process strictly to ensure it runs objectively, transparently, accountably, and free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism practices. He also warned the public not to trust parties promising selection success.
“All selection stages are free of charge, there are no special channels, and no party can guarantee passing,” he said.
After the competency test, participants will undergo additional selection in the form of ideological mental tests and health checks at the end of May 2026. The announcement of the final results is scheduled for 7 June 2026. Successful participants will then attend basic military reserve component (komcad) training as well as managerial training according to their respective duties.
The managers who pass the selection will be contracted under a fixed-term employment agreement (PKWT) scheme under the state-owned enterprise PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara for two years.