President Prabowo: Merah Putih Village Cooperatives – The Solution to Middlemen

In Klaten, Central Java, President Prabowo Subianto launched the 800,081 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives program, aiming not only to enhance people’s economic independence but also to eradicate exploitative practices by middlemen and loan sharks that have long exploited farmers in rural areas. During the official inauguration at Bentangan Village, Klaten Regency, Central Java, President Prabowo highlighted the chronic issues faced by farmers, such as post-harvest losses due to lack of trucks and proper storage facilities. He mentioned his observations of these challenges since his time as the Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI) in 2004. President Prabowo also addressed the issue of subsidized fertilizer not reaching farmers because of excessive bureaucracy, as well as the exploitation by middlemen manipulating prices and loan sharks charging high daily interest rates. He emphasized the importance of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives as a transformative measure to break the cycle of exploitation that has persisted for generations, calling for bold and decisive action to empower farmers and eliminate long-standing issues in the agricultural sector.

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