DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

Most Indonesians doubt future of Red and White Village Cooperatives: Survey

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A recent survey by Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC) indicates a significant drop in public confidence regarding the future development of Indonesia's Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP).
  • Confidence in the KDMP program has fallen from 43.3% in November 2025 to 25% in July 2026, while those lacking confidence rose to 61.1%.
  • Awareness of the KDMP program has increased significantly, yet many misunderstand its purpose, viewing it as a supermarket rather than a distribution channel for government aid and a buyer for agricultural products.

A majority of Indonesians express doubt about the future success of the Red and White Village Cooperative (KDMP) program, according to a recent survey by Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC).

Those who were confident, are now the opposite.

— Deni IrvaniSMRC Executive Director comments on the shift in public confidence regarding the KDMP program.

The survey, conducted between July 5-19, 2026, revealed that public confidence in the KDMP's development has plummeted to 25 percent, a sharp decline from 43.3 percent in November 2025. Confidence levels had already dipped to 41.7 percent in a February-March 2026 survey. Consequently, the percentage of respondents who are less or not confident about the KDMP's future surged to 61.1 percent in the latest poll.

Despite the waning confidence, awareness of the KDMP program has grown substantially. The July 2026 survey found that 76.9 percent of respondents were aware of the program, a significant increase from 51.5 percent in November 2025. However, Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan noted that many people misunderstand the cooperatives' role.

So, the majority of nearly 80 percent of the residents now know if asked if they know or have heard of KDMP. Whereas nine months ago, around 50 percent were aware.

— Deni IrvaniSMRC Executive Director highlights the increase in public awareness of the KDMP program.

Hasan, commonly known as Zulhas, explained that the KDMP is intended as government infrastructure for distributing aid and subsidized goods, and as an "off-taker" to purchase agricultural products like rice and corn from local farmers. He clarified that the cooperatives are not meant to function like supermarkets or general stores.

If the price of rice is below the standard that we determine, then the cooperative can take over, can buy rice, corn, and so on.

— Zulkifli HasanCoordinating Minister for Food explains the role of village cooperatives as buyers of agricultural products.

The government is currently finalizing regulations, including a presidential decree, for the operationalization of the KDMP. Minister Zulhas indicated that the rollout is a gradual process. President Prabowo Subianto had previously envisioned the KDMP as a key initiative for village-level economic development.

This is gradual because it cannot be done all at once.

— Zulkifli HasanCoordinating Minister for Food discusses the phased implementation of the Red and White cooperatives.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog