Merah Putih Village Cooperatives: A Solution to Middlemen and Loan Sharks

President Prabowo Subianto, in an event held in Bentangan Village, Klaten Regency, Central Java, highlighted the significance of launching 800,081 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives. These cooperatives aim not only to enhance economic independence among the people but also to eradicate exploitative practices by middlemen and loan sharks that have long disadvantaged rural farmers. Prabowo, recalling his observations since his time as Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association, emphasized the issue of post-harvest losses due to insufficient transportation and storage facilities for crops. Additionally, he addressed the challenges faced by farmers in accessing subsidized fertilizer, which often gets tangled in bureaucratic processes. The President also shed light on the exploitation of farmers by middlemen, who manipulate prices during times of financial need. The Merah Putih Village Cooperatives are seen as a crucial step towards breaking the cycle of exploitation and empowering farmers to overcome longstanding challenges in the agricultural sector.

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