BLITAR – Several villages in Blitar Regency still face difficulties building KDMP cooperative facilities because protected farmland regulations limit available construction land.

Local authorities said 12 villages have not started building Koperasi Desa Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDMP) units after proposed locations fell within protected agricultural zones.

Sri Wahyuni, head of the Blitar Regency Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Agency, said many proposed sites carry LSD and LP2B status. Indonesian regulations prohibit non-agricultural construction in those protected areas.

“Some villages are still searching for land because the previous locations turned out to be protected zones where construction is not allowed,” Sri said.

She explained that village administrations must now look for alternative land through village deliberation meetings.

Despite the land constraints, Blitar remains one of the fastest regions in developing KDMP cooperative facilities. The local government has accelerated construction through cooperation with the Indonesian military.

According to the latest data, 181 KDMP outlets have completed construction. Meanwhile, 55 other units remain under development across the regency.

The government has also continued distributing operational support equipment for the cooperatives.

Authorities have delivered 164 trucks, 60 pickup vehicles, and 19 three-wheeled vehicles to support logistics and business activities.

In addition, 146 KDMP units have received tables, chairs, shelves, and other operational equipment. The same number of cooperatives also received medical equipment, including examination tables and patient beds.

Officials plan to expand KDMP operations into village health clinic services in the future.

Meanwhile, cooperative management structures across Blitar Regency have reached full formation. All 248 villages and urban wards now officially have KDMP cooperative institutions.

However, not all cooperatives have started operating fully. So far, only 85 KDMP units have launched business activities by collecting membership savings and mandatory contributions.

Sri said annual member meetings remain important because they strengthen cooperative governance and financial management.

“These annual meetings are important because they form part of proper cooperative governance. We want to return to the original cooperative system through member savings and mandatory contributions,” she explained.

Several KDMP units have also started receiving business support from Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

The assistance includes biofloc fish farming facilities, catfish seeds, fish feed, and vitamins.

Three KDMP cooperatives have already received the support and completed their first harvest cycle. Meanwhile, 16 other cooperatives still await approval from the central government.