Public Relations of UPNVJ — The Chancellor of the Veteran National Development University Jakarta (UPNVJ), Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA., Comm., assessed that the noble purpose of establishing the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative (KDMP) is not yet fully understood by the community. In fact, if run with good governance, the cooperative has the potential to become an instrument for strengthening the people's economy at the village level, said Prof. Venus in the National Agricultural Workshop held by the Mantap Pilih Prabowo Movement (GMPP) together with the community organization Jaga Tunas Bumi (Jatubu) at the Krishna Garden auditorium, Wonosobo, Central Java, Saturday (8/8/2026)

In the National discussion attended by the President Director of Agrinas Joao Angela Mota, former Minister of PAN-RB, Prof. Yuddy Chrisnandi, and moderated by Indra Jaya Piliang, Prof. Venus said that the concept of KDMP has strong relevance to the ideals of the Indonesian economy which are based on the spirit of togetherness and family as contained in Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution.

"The goal of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative is actually very ideal. The cooperative's establishment is aimed at building a strong, affordable, and independent village economy with capital, governance, and a strong network. This will certainly strengthen the people's economy in the village," said Venus.

According to Venus, the public needs to receive a complete explanation that KDMP should not only be understood as a shop or place selling daily necessities.

The concept is much broader because the cooperative can become a hub for various community economic activities in one village ecosystem.

There are at least a number of main functions that KDMP is expected to carry out, starting from being a center for village economic services, shortening the supply chain, maintaining food security, absorbing MSME products and agricultural products, opening access to financing, to providing more accurate village economic data.

As the center of the village economy, cooperatives can be a place for communities to obtain basic necessities, fertilizer, LPG, savings and loan services, and various other community needs according to the potential and characteristics of each region.

Another function that is considered important is shortening the trade chain.

Farmers can sell their crops through cooperatives, while communities obtain essential goods through shorter distribution channels. This scheme is expected to improve producers' bargaining power while creating more efficient prices for consumers.

"If the supply chain can be shortened, the benefits can be felt on both sides. Farmers have better market access, while the community has the opportunity to obtain necessities at more affordable prices," said Venus.

KDMP can also act as an offtaker for agricultural products and MSME products so that the community has a more certain marketing channel.

According to Venus, this function is important because the problems often faced by small producers are not only the ability to produce products, but also access to markets.

In the agricultural sector, for example, farmers can face falling prices during the peak harvest season due to high supply. The presence of cooperatives capable of organizing purchasing, storage, and marketing can help strengthen farmers' position.

Despite offering various benefits, Venus believes that the existence of KDMP must still pay attention to cooperatives and BUMDes that have already developed.

According to him, public concerns regarding the possibility of overlap are natural and need to be addressed through clear institutional design.

"If a village already has a well-functioning village-owned enterprise (BUMDes) or cooperative, the Kopdes shouldn't be seen as a competitor. A pattern of integration and role allocation must be established," he said.

Venus cited the example of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) that could remain focused on sectors they have successfully developed, such as local tourism, water management, including drinking water, party equipment and sports facility rentals, and local potential-based businesses. Meanwhile, Village-Owned Enterprises (KDMP) could play a role in food distribution, agricultural marketing, basic necessities, or financing services.

With this pattern, village economic institutions do not weaken each other, but instead increase the economic capacity of the community.

Venus also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the KDMP truly grows from the needs of residents and is managed with community involvement.

A sense of belonging is an important factor because the success of a cooperative is ultimately determined by member participation.

"If the community feels that this cooperative belongs to them, that it benefits them, and that they are involved in the management process, public support will be much stronger," said Venus.

Beyond ownership issues, the quality of human resources within the management must be a priority. Cooperative managers require not only enthusiasm but also the ability to manage finances, identify business opportunities, implement transparent governance, and be accountable for the use of capital and assets.

Venus believes that implementation also needs to be accompanied by results-based evaluation. The success of the KDMP cannot be measured solely by the number of cooperatives formed, but rather by its impact on community life.

Indicators include increased income for farmers and MSMEs, easier access to financing, improved distribution of goods, the creation of markets for local products, and the growth of productive economic activities in villages.

According to Venus, the government needs to show concrete examples of success so that the public can more easily understand the benefits of KDMP.

"Ultimately, the public needs proof. Whether prices have improved, whether farmers have been helped, whether MSMEs have access to markets, and whether cooperatives are healthy. These kinds of tangible successes will build trust," he said.

For the UPNVJ Rector, the grand idea of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative holds strategic potential for strengthening village independence. However, this goal can only be achieved if the policy is implemented transparently, participatory, and professionally, and without stifling existing community economic initiatives.

"Their noble goals need to be continuously communicated in language that the public can easily understand. At the same time, their implementation must truly demonstrate that cooperatives exist to strengthen village communities, not simply add new institutions," Venus concluded.