Indonesia to rectify Kopdes Merah Putih sites built on agricultural and mountain lands

The Indonesian government is addressing concerns regarding the placement of Koperasi Desa (Kopdes) Merah Putih facilities. In Central Java, more than 1,100 of these cooperatives have been established on sustainable food agricultural land (LP2B). Henggar Budi Anggoro, Head of the Central Java Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPR), stated that while these buildings exist on green and agricultural zones, the total land area used is not considered significant and remains within reasonable limits. The provincial office has reported these locations to the Ministry of Agraria and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN).

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan acknowledged that some constructions are misplaced, specifically mentioning facilities built in mountainous areas. He confirmed that the government will take corrective action and order the rectification of these improper sites. Despite these spatial planning issues, the government is accelerating the program, aiming to complete 35,000 Kopdes by the end of August 2026 to begin operations in September, with further targets set for next year.