"These two programs alone will be able to increase village economic growth by no less than 6 to 7 times," he said, according to a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
With good economic growth, the status of a village can also change to an independent village, he added while attending the Village Development Festival and the 1,000 Tenong Parade in Banjarnegara district, Central Java, on Wednesday.
Patria said that the free meals program is not only aimed at improving the nutritional status of children, but also boosting the village economy, opening up job opportunities, and increasing village productivity.
The success of those programs will depend on the active participation of the relevant parties, he added.
Earlier, Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Yandri Susanto, emphasized that the formation of the Red and White Village Cooperatives is part of the government's effort to end poverty in villages.
It is also aimed at supporting the community's access to medicines and basic needs such as rice, and preventing people from falling victim to loan sharks, he said.
President Prabowo issued Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2025 on the Acceleration of the Red and White Village Cooperatives' Formation to expedite the establishment of 80 thousand village cooperatives across the country.
The Red and White Cooperatives are envisioned as hubs of economic and social services for village communities, which would provide savings, loans, and clinic services, among other things.
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Translator: Tri Meilani, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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