President Prabowo Subianto stressed the significance of the launch of 800,081 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives in improving the economic autonomy of the people and eradicating exploitative practices by middlemen and loan sharks that have long disadvantaged rural farmers. During the official inauguration of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative Program in Bentangan Village, Central Java, Prabowo highlighted the persistent issues faced by farmers, such as the lack of transportation and storage facilities leading to post-harvest losses. He also mentioned the challenges in accessing subsidized fertilizer due to bureaucratic hurdles. Additionally, Prabowo pointed out the exploitation of farmers by middlemen and loan sharks who manipulate prices, forcing farmers to borrow at high interest rates for daily needs. The establishment of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives is a transformative step to disrupt this cycle of exploitation and bring about change through bold actions to benefit the farming community.
Prabowo: Merah Putih Village Cooperatives – Middlemen & Loan Sharks Out!
