Lamongan, East Java, Jan. 27 -- The Indonesian government intends for the cooperatives it is currently developing in villages nationwide to play a central role in supporting the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan stated.

He referred to the more than 80,000 cooperatives established under the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) program, which was launched by President Prabowo Subianto in July last year.

"The MBG and KDMP programs will be interconnected. Village cooperatives will be tasked with absorbing products from MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) as well as agricultural and fishery commodities," Hasan said in Lamongan District, East Java, on Tuesday.

During a re...