BLITAR – Merah Putih Village Cooperative program in Blitar Regency has entered a crucial testing phase as local authorities evaluate operational readiness before opening more village-based cooperative stores across the region.
Among the 196 completed Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) outlets in Blitar, only one has started trial operations. The pilot store is located in Pasirharjo Village, Talun District, and serves as a model for future openings.
The Blitar Regency Government selected the Pasirharjo outlet to identify technical issues that could emerge once the broader network begins serving residents. Officials believe early testing will help prevent disruptions and improve service quality at other locations.
Sri Wahyuni, Head of the Blitar Regency Cooperative and Micro Business Office, said the trial operation aims to map challenges and develop solutions before additional stores become operational.
“We want to identify problems that arise in the field so we can immediately discuss solutions before other outlets open,” Sri said on Tuesday.
During a monitoring visit, Sri personally conducted a transaction at the cooperative by purchasing a box of cooking oil. However, after completing the payment, she did not receive a receipt because the store had run out of paper for printing transaction records.
Although the issue appeared minor, officials recorded it as an important evaluation point. The finding will become part of discussions with Agrinas, the digital platform supporting the cooperative network.
Sri said she only learned about the Pasirharjo store’s opening last weekend. She then visited the location to assess operational conditions firsthand and observe how the pilot program functioned in practice.
Currently, 13 Merah Putih Village Cooperative outlets have received system access and approval through Agrinas. However, authorities have postponed full operations until supporting infrastructure is ready.
Several locations still need essential facilities, including clean water networks, water pumps, and complete store equipment. Local officials want every cooperative to provide reliable services from the first day of operation.
“We do not want stores to open before basic facilities are ready. Once they open, they must immediately serve the community properly,” Sri said.
The cooperative development program continues to make significant progress across Blitar Regency. Of the 248 villages and urban communities included in the initiative, 196 cooperative outlets have reached full completion.
Meanwhile, 42 outlets remain under construction, while another 10 locations are still in preparation because of land-related issues.
Following the national launch of the program by the Indonesian president, Blitar became the region with the highest number of inaugurated cooperative outlets. A total of 72 KDMP stores participated in the national rollout phase.
Despite that achievement, officials stress that opening schedules will depend on operational readiness rather than construction completion alone. Authorities are still organizing administrative requirements, inventory records, and product data integration into the Agrinas system.
“The technical process is quite complex because many product categories will be sold. Everything must first be entered into the system,” Sri explained.
The Blitar administration hopes lessons from the Pasirharjo pilot store will help improve future operations. Officials believe careful preparation will strengthen the Merah Putih Village Cooperative program and support long-term rural economic development throughout the regency.