Zulhas: The 'Red and White' Village Cooperative is Not a Supermarket

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan has clarified that the ‘Red and White’ Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) are not intended to replace modern retail outlets or supermarkets. He noted that there has been a public misconception regarding the role of the village cooperatives, with many assuming they would supplant modern retail stores. ‘It is not a supermarket,’ Zulkifli stated before attending a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday. He explained that the cooperative functions as an off-taker, absorbing produce from farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen. He emphasised that this role is crucial to ensure producers receive fair prices and are not forced to sell below standard rates. ‘If the price of unhusked rice falls below the standard we have set, the cooperative can take over and buy the unhusked rice, corn, and other commodities,’ Zulkifli clarified.