RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, said the integration of Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) with the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program is providing stable market access for local fish farmers while supporting national nutrition initiatives. The model is also expected to strengthen rural economies and improve food security.

The press statement received by RRI VOI in Jakarta on Monday, August 3, 2026, stated that Zulkifli Hasan said the model has been implemented at the Kamolan Village Cooperative in Blora, Central Java.

Under the initiative, the cooperative supplies processed catfish to four Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), which provide protein for the government's Free Nutritious Meals Program. "This is the closed-loop economy we are building. Communities have guaranteed markets, cooperatives drive rural economies, and children receive quality protein through the MBG Program," Zulkifli Hasan said.

According to the minister, the initiative creates an integrated rural economic ecosystem linking production, business management, and long-term market demand. Fish farmers produce the commodities, cooperatives manage operations, and SPPG units purchase the harvest on a continuous basis.

He said that the guaranteed demand allows farmers to better plan production volumes and harvesting schedules. This approach is expected to improve efficiency while providing greater income certainty for local producers.

The Kamolan biofloc aquaculture facility began operations in February 2026 and produced approximately 1.04 metric tons of catfish during its first production cycle. The facility continues expanding its production capacity to meet the nutritional program's growing demand.

Zulkifli Hasan said the integration demonstrates how government programs can connect rural production with public nutrition services. "The integration of KDMP and MBG proves that government programs are now connected from upstream to downstream," he said.

The Indonesian government aims to produce 7.15 million metric tons of farmed fish in 2026 through its thematic biofloc aquaculture program. The initiative is expected to boost fish production, create jobs, strengthen rural economies, and ensure a sustainable supply of protein for the nationwide Free Nutritious Meals Program.