President Prabowo: Red and White Village Cooperatives vs Middlemen & Loan Sharks

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, highlighted the significance of launching 800,081 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives to boost economic independence among the people and eradicate exploitative practices by middlemen and loan sharks that have long affected farmers in rural areas. During the official inauguration of the program in Bentangan Village, Klaten Regency, Central Java, President Prabowo reflected on his observations of these issues since his time as Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI) in 2004. He pointed out the challenges faced by farmers such as inadequate transportation and storage facilities after harvest, resulting in significant post-harvest losses. President Prabowo also addressed the issue of subsidized fertilizer that often fails to reach farmers due to bureaucratic obstacles. He highlighted the exploitation of farmers by middlemen who manipulate prices when farmers are in need of cash, pushing them into borrowing from loan sharks with high daily interest rates. In response, the President emphasized that the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives are a transformative measure to end the cycle of exploitation and empower farmers. He called for bold action to break the longstanding cycle of exploitation and ensure a better future for farmers in Indonesia.

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