Minister of Agriculture Requests China to Become a Supplier of Red and White Kopdes Agricultural Tools

Minister of Home Affairs Ferry Juliantono (Photo: Ministry of Home Affairs)

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono invited the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) to become a strategic partner in providing agricultural production equipment for Indonesian farmers.

This step is believed to be able to increase production results while strengthening the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative (Kopdes) ecosystem.

In a meeting with representatives of the CCPIT Indonesia, Li Feng, as well as the Head of the Koperasi Unit Desa (KUD) Portasius Nggedi in Jakarta, Friday, the Minister of Home Affairs emphasized the importance of cross-country collaboration to strengthen the operationalization of the Red and White Kopdes.

Ferry assessed that as the largest trade organization in China, CCPIT has the capacity to support the development of cooperatives in Indonesia through the supply of modern technology and equipment.

"I believe that collaborations like this will strengthen the business ecosystem that we are building for Kopdes Merah Putih," said Ferry, quoted by Antara.

He added that the village agriculture sector has great potential to strengthen food security if managed collectively through cooperatives. Therefore, Kopdes Merah Putih is asked to make agriculture the main business unit.

Ferry also highlighted that there are still many village natural resources that have not been optimally utilized, even though villages in Indonesia have land and agricultural commodities that can be developed to meet food needs while creating economic value.

Furthermore, the Minister of Cooperatives assessed that the involvement of cooperatives in agricultural management would create a double effect for the village economy.

In addition to increasing food production, cooperative business activities are also able to open new jobs and strengthen the local economic chain.

"The existence of the Red and White Kopdes must be directed at managing the specific potential possessed by each region, not just running a uniform business. This approach is more adaptive to the conditions and needs of the village," he said.

With the support of modern agricultural production tools, Ferry is optimistic that village cooperatives can become a driving force for sustainable community-based economies.