Indonesia expands Red and White Village Cooperatives program

The Indonesian government is advancing the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) program to bolster local economies and food security. The initiative involves deploying professional managers to oversee cooperative operations, with over 33,000 trained managers already prepared for placement across thousands of cooperatives.

In Cilegon, the Masigit KDMP has reported a profit of Rp60 million within its first year by selling essential goods such as rice, gas, and oil. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is working to integrate these cooperatives into the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. This synergy aims to have village cooperatives supply processed fish products, such as catfish and tilapia, to MBG kitchens.

To support this, the ministry has established freshwater fish farming facilities at 100 KDMP locations across Java. In the Rempang Eco-City area, local cooperatives are already marketing approximately two tons of fish per month to Batam, demonstrating the potential for increased production through improved management and infrastructure.