President Prabowo Subianto, during the official inauguration of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative Program in Klaten, Central Java, emphasized the program’s significance in promoting economic independence among the people and eradicating the exploitative practices of middlemen and loan sharks that have long disadvantaged farmers in rural areas. He emphasized that as the former Chairman of HKTI, he has witnessed the persistent challenges faced by farmers, such as the lack of proper storage facilities and transportation leading to post-harvest losses. Additionally, he highlighted the bureaucratic obstacles hindering farmers’ access to subsidized fertilizers and the exploitation by middlemen who manipulate prices, forcing farmers to resort to loan sharks with high daily interest rates. President Prabowo emphasized the transformative role of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives in breaking this cycle of exploitation and pledged bold actions to empower farmers and enhance their economic prospects.
