Zulhas Clarifies Village Cooperatives Are Not Supermarkets

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan has emphasised that the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) are distinct from modern retail outlets or supermarkets. Speaking before a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, Zulkifli addressed public misconceptions that the cooperatives would replace existing retail shops. He explained that the cooperatives are designed to function as off-takers, absorbing the produce of farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen to ensure they receive fair prices. “If the price of unhusked rice falls below the standard we have set, the cooperative can take over and purchase the rice, corn, and other commodities,” Zulkifli stated. Regarding infrastructure, he noted that the village cooperatives will serve as a platform for distributing various forms of aid, including social assistance and subsidised goods. “Assistance, social aid, and subsidised goods must go through the Kopdes in the future. This makes it clear, because every village has one,” he added. According to data from the Management Information System for the Acceleration of the Formation of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Simpkopdes) as of 14 July 2026, a total of 83,382 cooperatives have been formed, though not all have physical buildings. Of that number, there are 38,054 land proposals for physical construction, 35,867 have been verified, 19,296 cooperatives are still under construction, and 16,091 have completed 100 percent of their construction.