Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, said the Red and White Fishermen Village (KNMP) program aims to raise the Fishermen Exchange Rate (NTN) from 103 to 120 by 2027.The NTN serves as a welfare index measuring the ratio of fishermen's revenues to their household expenditures.The indicator is used to gauge purchasing power, with a score above 100 indicating that revenue outpaces expenditure.”President Prabowo Subianto's primary goal is to achieve food self-sufficiency. Currently, our Fishermen Exchange Rate stands at 103, and we project it to rise to 120 by 2027,” Hasan said in an official statement released on Friday.He noted that lengthy distribution chains often reduce the selling prices of catches, while limited storage capacity makes it difficult to maintain the quality of fishery products.Consequently, the government is developing the KNMP as a coastal economic ecosystem that integrates catch handling, storage, distribution, and the development of fishery business units.”The KNMP is designed to boost the Fishermen Exchange Rate by shortening the distribution chain, allowing fishermen to gain greater economic value from their catches,” Hasan said.Nationally, the government targets the construction of 5,000 KNMPs by 2029, with 1,369 locations targeted for completion by the end of 2026.The first phase of construction has been completed in 65 locations across 25 provinces, while the second phase, covering 35 locations, is scheduled for gradual completion by August 2026.Additionally, the government has finalized the verification of 1,269 prospective locations in preparation for subsequent development phases.During a joint inspection with Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono at the KNMP in Warloka Village, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday (July 30), Hasan noted that the area is projected to produce 1,038 tons of fishery commodities annually.The village supports 263 active fishermen operating a fleet of 178 vessels, focusing on key commodities such as mackerel tuna, fringescale sardinella, and scad.The KNMP facility is equipped with one portable cold storage unit, one ice factory, a refrigerated truck, and 50 cooler boxes.Once fully operational, the program is expected to increase each fisherman's income by approximately Rp3.5 million (around US$193.65, exchange rate US$1 = Rp18,074) per month.Based on a business feasibility analysis, 10 business units in the area have the potential to generate an annual turnover of Rp6.97 billion (approximately US$385,636), with an estimated net profit of Rp677.77 million (approximately US$37,499) per year.”The development of the Warloka KNMP is projected to generate tangible economic impact,” Hasan said.