Indonesia advances Merah Putih Cooperative operations and food supply plans

Efforts to operationalize the Merah Putih Cooperatives (KMP) are progressing in Indonesia, with different regions and agencies focusing on different stages of implementation.

In Serang City, 24 out of 67 planned Merah Putih Cooperatives are prepared to begin operations by October 2026 following field verification and validation. The remaining 43 cooperatives are currently delayed due to land availability issues. Local officials are awaiting technical guidelines regarding whether land procurement will be handled by provincial or city governments, noting that manager appointments remain under central government authority.

On a national level, Perum Bulog is preparing food supply support for at least 100 Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP) to serve as pilot projects by October 20, 2026. Bulog Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani stated that the agency will coordinate with PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara to select locations and is prepared to supply Stabilisasi Pasokan dan Harga Pangan (SPHP) rice based on demand. This initiative is supported by a government decision to add one million tons of SPHP rice allocation to maintain supplies during lean periods.