President Prabowo Subianto recently launched the Merah Putih Village Cooperative Program, with the aim of empowering rural communities and eradicating exploitative practices by middlemen and loan sharks that have long plagued farmers. During the inauguration event in Bentangan Village, Klaten Regency, Central Java, President Prabowo highlighted the challenges faced by farmers, such as lack of access to transportation and storage facilities leading to post-harvest losses. He also addressed issues with the distribution of subsidized fertilizer, citing bureaucratic hurdles that prevent farmers from receiving the necessary support. Furthermore, President Prabowo emphasized the predatory nature of middlemen who manipulate prices and the desperation of farmers resorting to loan sharks for financial assistance. The Merah Putih Village Cooperatives are seen as a crucial step in breaking this cycle of exploitation to bring about sustainable change and economic empowerment for rural communities.
