Here Are 11 Benefits of Kopdes Merah Putih for Village Communities

Jakarta: President Prabowo Subianto inaugurate 80,000 Koperasi Desa Merah Putih centered in Klaten Regency. This program marks an important milestone in efforts to empower the people's economy and strengthen village independence, a national development priority.

Kopdes Merah Putih are a major initiative aimed at revitalizing the spirit of mutual cooperation and strengthening the village economy. This program is believed to bring real change to the lives of village communities.

Here are 11 strategic benefits of Kopdes Merah Putih:

1. Improving Village Community Welfare
Cooperatives provide a space for villagers to manage their own economic resources. Cooperative profits are returned to members, so the impact is immediately felt in their daily lives.

2. Creating New Jobs
Cooperative operations involve many roles, from shop managers and truck drivers to logistics administrators to village pharmacists. This opens up new, decent job opportunities close to home.

3. Providing Systematic and Fast Economic Services
Cooperatives provide integrated services, from harvest collection, storage, to distribution, in one efficient, technology-based system.

4. Encouraging Active Community Participation
Every cooperative member has a voice. This system encourages active community involvement in collectively managing and developing the cooperative.

5. Modernizing Digital-Based Cooperative Management
With the support of technology, cooperatives manage transactions, inventory, and financial reports digitally. This makes operations more transparent, efficient, and reliable.

6. Reducing Commodity Prices at the Consumer Level
Direct distribution without intermediaries makes goods, especially basic necessities, cheaper for rural communities. Consumers receive more affordable prices, while producers still earn a decent profit.

7. Improving Farmer Exchange Rates (NTP)
By selling directly to cooperatives, farmers receive fairer prices. This has a direct impact on increasing their income and welfare.

8. Breaking Down Middlemen and Shortening the Supply Chain
Cooperatives eliminate farmers' dependence on middlemen by providing warehousing, distribution, and market access. Farmers are no longer trapped in a detrimental system.

9. Increasing Financial Inclusion in Rural Areas
The Kopdes Merah Putih collaborates with national banks to provide access to loans, savings, and formal financial services for villagers who have previously been unbanked.

10. Encouraging the Strengthening of Village MSMEs
Local MSMEs gain access to markets, capital, and logistics managed by cooperatives. This accelerates the growth of micro-businesses as the backbone of the village economy.

11. Reducing Extreme Poverty and Suppressing Inflation
By increasing incomes, stabilizing prices, and ensuring access to basic services, cooperatives play a direct role in reducing poverty and maintaining village economic stability.