Jakarta, March 5 -- National Food Agency (Bapanas) head Arief Prasetyo Adi has informed that President Prabowo Subianto is planning to establish 70 thousand Red and White Village Cooperatives as part of efforts to keep paddy prices from falling.

While reviewing food prices here on Wednesday, he said that the plan to build village cooperatives is an important step for maintaining the welfare of farmers across the country.

According to Adi, the step will provide support for farmers so that paddy prices remain stable, with village cooperatives buying the paddy. In this way, price declines, which are detrimental to farmers, can be avoided, he explained.

He further said that the village cooperatives are expected to have a positive impact on...