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  • Governor Encourages Local Cooperatives to Boost Economy

    Governor Encourages Local Cooperatives to Boost Economy

    Lombok Zone – In an effort to spur economic growth at the village level, the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) is set to begin its business activities. This initiative was highlighted by NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal during his visit to the Merah Putih Telaga Bertong Cooperative on Friday, March 13, 2026.

    Governor Iqbal emphasized the importance of integrating various government programs with initiatives such as the Merah Putih Cooperative, which includes welfare schemes like the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, fishing village projects, and integrated livestock farming.

    To provide tangible support, he specifically requested Bank NTB Syariah to assist cooperatives that are ready to launch their businesses through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. Each cooperative will receive approximately IDR 25 million in goods, rather than cash, to kickstart their operations.

    These goods are sourced from partners including Bulog, Pupuk Indonesia, and Pertamina. The cooperatives can then sell these items to the community, allowing them to generate a profit margin that can be reinvested as business capital.

    “The key is for them to start doing business. From the sales margins, they can build their capital,” he stated.

    Initially, about ten cooperatives are slated to benefit from this CSR initiative as a pilot project. Should this program prove successful, similar support will be extended to other cooperatives ready to engage in business activities. So far, CSR assistance aimed at promoting cooperative business activities has begun flowing from Bank NTB Syariah and Bank Mandiri.

  • Governor Iqbal Strengthens Village Economy Through Cooperatives

    Governor Iqbal Strengthens Village Economy Through Cooperatives

    Lombok Zone – The Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, has expressed his unwavering commitment to enhancing the village economy by promoting the development of cooperatives and community-based business ecosystems. His remarks came during a meeting with the management of the Merah Putih Melayu Asakota Cooperative in Bima City on Monday, March 2.

    Governor Iqbal highlighted that the local government is poised to assist in advancing technology and formulating business plans to ensure that cooperatives and village enterprises operate effectively. He also mentioned that support would be provided to facilitate access to capital through banking channels.

    “We will help draft the business plans to enable them to apply for bank loans. It’s crucial that these cooperatives are engaged in actual business, not just operating storefronts,” he stressed.

    He pointed out that the distribution chain for agricultural products has been excessively lengthy, resulting in farmers not reaping optimal profits. The produce goes through various intermediaries before reaching the market, which adversely affects the farmers’ bargaining power.

    The cooperative concept championed by the government aims to shorten this distribution chain. With cooperatives, farmers can sell their products directly to the market or end buyers, thereby improving their bargaining position in price negotiations.

    Governor Iqbal also encouraged the development of productive enterprises in villages, such as small-scale egg-laying poultry farms and greenhouse horticulture. These business models are considered practical for meeting local market demands while reducing dependence on external supplies.

    He cited that through collective chicken coop management, villages could produce thousands of eggs weekly, marketed via cooperatives. Similarly, cultivating chili and daily consumption vegetables could satisfy high community demand.

    During the event, he also provided support in the form of infrastructure and equipment to the Merah Putih Melayu Asakota Cooperative, underscoring the government’s tangible commitment to accelerate cooperative operations and business development in the villages.

    He reiterated that strengthening the village economy transcends mere political discourse; it is a significant endeavor towards improving community welfare. “If it’s about politics, we can discuss it in its own arena. However, addressing the economic concerns of the people is a task we must undertake together,” he concluded.
  • Local Cooperatives in NTB Urged to Embrace Business Transformation and Seize Opportunities

    Local Cooperatives in NTB Urged to Embrace Business Transformation and Seize Opportunities

    Lombok Zone – The government of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is actively encouraging local cooperatives to evolve into robust business entities. A significant opportunity lies within the national Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which has recently been launched in the region.

    During his address to the members of the Merah Putih Cooperative at Jembatan Kembar, Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal emphasized that cooperatives should be viewed as business institutions rather than social organizations. He urged members to shift their mindset and recognize that the success of a cooperative is dependent on the active participation of its members in transactions and the development of business units.

    “Cooperatives are business institutions founded by and for the members. I commend the Merah Putih Cooperative for taking the initiative to distribute essential commodities. This marks a promising start towards becoming a larger business entity,” he remarked during his visit to the KDMP Jembatan Kembar Timur Lembar on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

    To bolster capital strength, it was highlighted that a pool of Rp30 billion in People’s Business Credit (KUR) is currently available at Bank NTB, specifically designated for cooperatives and small-medium enterprises (SMEs). This low-interest funding is expected to act as a catalyst for cooperatives to elevate their business operations through well-structured business proposals.

    Governor Iqbal also stressed the importance of cooperatives’ involvement in the MBG program. Currently, there are over 800 MBG kitchens operating in NTB. However, local farmers supply only 30 percent of the egg demand, with the remainder coming from external sources.

    “This is a golden opportunity. Cooperatives can act as aggregators for the produce from their members’ households to supply the MBG kitchens. The demand is already established; it’s just about how cooperatives manage their supply chain,” he explained.

    Besides eggs, other commodities like chicken, milk, and bread present additional opportunities within the government’s food security framework.

    In conclusion, he encouraged all members to cultivate a sense of ownership towards their cooperatives by prioritizing shopping within their own cooperative instead of turning to modern retail outlets. This strategy is aimed at keeping economic circulation within the membership, ultimately benefiting them through the distribution of profit shares.

    Meanwhile, H. Ismail Darwan, the head of Jembatan Kembar Timur village, expressed his gratitude during his address, appreciating the governor’s visit, which he described as a long-awaited gesture of the provincial government’s commitment to rural development.

    “Thank goodness, our mothers have been patiently waiting to see the governor. We, as a community, extend our warm welcome and gratitude for your willingness to see our conditions firsthand,” he said.

    On the same occasion, Rustam Thamrin, the chairman of KDMP Jembatan Kembar Timur, reported on the cooperative’s progress. He explained that KDMP was established as a swift response to the President’s directive regarding food self-sufficiency.

    “Since May, we have swiftly recruited 96 members. Initially relying on a starting fund of Rp10 million, we began our business operations in September. Our management is dedicated, working through all weather conditions to procure goods from Bulog to serve our members,” Rustam reported.

    He added that in January, they secured a loan agreement of Rp25 million from Bank NTB to scale their business further. “With this significant capital, profits started to become evident. We are highly motivated to keep progressing,” he asserted.

  • NTB Governor Encourages Red and White Cooperative to Boost Local Food Supply

    NTB Governor Encourages Red and White Cooperative to Boost Local Food Supply

    Lombok Zone – The Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, has urged the Red and White Cooperative (Kopdes) to play an essential role as a supplier of food items for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in the region.

    This call to action came during his visit to the Kopdes in Tegal Maja, located in Tanjung District, North Lombok, on the afternoon of February 25, 2026. Iqbal emphasized the significant economic opportunities that the local cooperatives can seize from this national program.

    He highlighted the high demand for essential food supplies, such as eggs and meat, to support the MBG initiative in NTB. Currently, local egg producers can only meet about 30% of the region’s needs, with the remainder being imported from Java. With the MBG program set to increase the demand further, there is a risk that external supplies could become increasingly limited.

    “Focus on supplying for MBG only. There is nearly 6 trillion IDR circulating in the MBG program. This presents a tremendous economic opportunity for our region,” stated Iqbal.

    He noted that by 2026, funds circulating in NTB through this flagship program from President Prabowo Subianto would reach 5.7 trillion IDR, exceeding the NTB Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD). Iqbal warned that the influx of central government funds should not flow out of the region due to NTB’s unpreparedness for being a supplier. He insists that local cooperatives must take the lead to ensure that the economic benefits are realized by the local community.

    As the former Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey, he also mentioned that Bank NTB Syariah has allocated a Credit for People’s Business (KUR) budget of 30 billion IDR for cooperatives and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This funding can be utilized by Kopdes to submit loan proposals as initial capital to establish livestock businesses capable of meeting the needs of the MBG.

    “We are currently designing the credit distribution plan; Bank NTB is also open for KUR disbursement to ensure this program is directed and precise,” he explained. Iqbal added that once the business proposals are ready, cooperatives can promptly apply for loans from Bank NTB Syariah for swift capital disbursement.

    Meanwhile, Martinom, the Chairman of Kopdes Tegal Maja, revealed that the cooperative is currently engaged in two types of businesses: rice and LPG sales. Following the governor’s directive, he acknowledged the substantial potential for livestock farming in his village. Currently, there are several broiler and layer chicken farms in operation, although funding challenges have hindered further business development.

    “From the start, we have been eyeing the MBG potential. If we had been provided with soft funding early on, we could prioritize building chicken coops,” stated Martinom.

    It is known that Kopdes Merah Putih Tegal Maja currently has 26 members, but interest from the community is high, with around 200 people wanting to join. In addition to funding constraints, the cooperative is also dealing with land issues for establishing their store. They hope these land issues can be resolved soon so that the cooperative can fully realize its business potential.