President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision is being implemented through the establishment of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) to achieve economic self-reliance and equitable development. This initiative, with over 80,000 cooperatives launched in Bentangan Village, Wonosari District, Klaten Regency, Central Java, aims to empower communities from the grassroots level. The President emphasized that true independence is not only about national symbols but also about improving the well-being of the people.
Kopdes Merah Putih will serve as engines of inclusive economic growth, following the philosophy of development as freedom introduced by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. This approach focuses on removing barriers such as poverty, hunger, and lack of political agency to expand human capabilities and ensure meaningful participation in the development process. The cooperatives are designed to boost rural economies, enhance quality of life for farmers and fishers, and create new rural jobs to prevent youth migration to urban centers.
By providing storage warehouses, cold storage facilities, and logistics support, Kopdes Merah Putih aims to address challenges faced by farmers such as low exchange values for their products. These cooperatives also reduce dependency on middlemen, streamline production, and increase efficiency. Through the establishment of these cooperatives, President Prabowo aims to strengthen grassroots participation, improve rural economies, and create opportunities for young people to build a future in their villages.
