Kopdes Merah Putih Jadi Motor Prabowo Mobilasi Ekonomi Desa

Head of the Presidential Communication Office Hasan Nasbi. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Red and White Villages / Villages Cooperative (Kopdes) is President Prabowo Subianto's 6th Asta Cita to drive the local economy so that poverty alleviation can start at the village / sub-district level.

Head of the Presidential Communication Office Hasan Nasbi said the Red and White Kopdes was one of the poverty alleviation tridents in the Prabowo era which will be launched throughout July 2025.

"The first weapon is health, the second weapon is education, and the third weapon is socio-economic," Hasan said as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, July 20.

The three weapons were realized in the Free Health Check Program for Schools, People's Schools, and the Red and White Kopdes. These three programs are the government's serious efforts and commitments to ensure a real equitable distribution of welfare.

The Red and White Kopdes was launched based on Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2025 concerning the Acceleration of the Establishment of the Red and White Village Cooperative. The Presidential Instruction was issued and took effect on March 27, 2025.

This program aims to build an economy from the village and create equity and liberate people from poverty.

A total of 13 ministries and 2 agencies were involved in the success of the Red and White Kopdes program, including governors, mayors/regents and village heads.

Poverty is a source of public inability to access major basic services such as education, health, and decent infrastructure.

Based on BPS (2025) data, the number of poor people in September 2024 was 24.06 million people or 8.57 percent. In fact, 3,170,003 people fall into the category of extreme poor.

The issue of poverty is a challenge in an effort towards the vision of Indonesia Gold 2045. Poverty greatly affects the development of human resources.

Poverty will have an impact on limited access to quality education, skills training, adequate health services, as well as adequate food and nutrition.

Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Communication Office Adita Irawati said the 80,000 Red and White Kopdes institutions will be launched Monday (21/5), of which 103 are mock ups or pilot models in the future.

The success story of the 103 Red and White Kopdes will later be replicated to other villages, which are expected to be fully operational on October 28, 2025.

"A total of 103 Red and White Kopdes will be seen for operationalization. The other (Red and White KoPDes) preparations are gradual. This is done to ensure that not only stands and operates, but the Red and White Kopdes can provide optimal benefits for the community," Adita said.

The Red and White Kopdes is operated through an inclusive, modern, and mutual-based approach. The Red and White Kopdes is expected to strengthen the village economy, increase food security, and ultimately reduce poverty.

Thus, there are no more illegal online loans or tengkulak and moneylenders that have ensnared the village community.

The Red and White Kopdes also has the potential to encourage local businesses, shorten distribution chains, and provide access to resources and services needed by the village community.

The Red and White Kopdes put forward the prosperity and welfare of farmers, because it is a place to accommodate agricultural products directly, without passing through the length of the supply chain which has been suppressing farmers' profits.

The short supply chain also suppresses the movement of the tengkulak and benefits consumers who can get a more affordable price.

The Red and White Kopdes was developed through three main approaches. First, building a new cooperative; secondly developing existing cooperatives, and thirdly revitalizing cooperatives.

Institutionally, the Red and White Kopdes consists of offices, basic food outlets, savings and loan units, clinics and village pharmacies, cold storage, and logistics distribution.

The facilities in the Red and White Kopdes are expected to make it easier for the public to access basic needs that are more affordable.

"People can also borrow capital easily without going through moneylenders. Health services will be closer. Farming and sea products can be stored in a safe place. Logistics distributions are also running smoothly," concluded Adita.