Jakarta, June 3 -- The Red and White Village Cooperatives program could serve as an effective measure to realize economic justice nationwide, including in Papua Province, according to Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Minister Yandri Susanto.

Supporting this view, he expressed confidence that such business entities would help shorten the production and distribution chains of essential goods and services.

Susanto made these remarks during an event on preparations for the national program's implementation in Papua, held at the Office of the Papua Governor in Jayapura City on Monday (June 2).

"Our farmers tend to fall victim to long distribution chains that disproportionately benefit middlemen. This practice often results ...