Gov't sends 200 water pumps to support Kalimantan wildfire response

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman told the press in Jakarta on Thursday that the pumps were dispatched following direct instructions from President Prabowo Subianto to expedite assistance for on-the-ground response efforts.

The 200 pumps comprise 50 units sent to Central Kalimantan, 50 to East Kalimantan, 50 to South Kalimantan, and 50 to West Kalimantan.

In addition to aiding fire suppression efforts, the pumps are designed to serve a dual long-term purpose, as farmers and plantation owners can repurpose them for crop irrigation once conditions return to normal.

The swift delivery of aid is part of the ministry’s broader effort to keep agricultural lands productive while strengthening national food security amid the threats of drought and wildfires.

“Yes, they are meant for firefighting, but after the fires are out, smallholders and farmers can also use them for irrigation,” Amran said.

He added that the Ministry of Agriculture has not yet received reports of agricultural or plantation lands affected by the fires in those areas.

Nevertheless, he assured that his ministry continues to closely monitor the situation.

Indonesia is intensifying efforts to fight land and forest fires in several regions as a strong El Niño phenomenon threatens to exacerbate dry conditions. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) predicts the fire risk will peak between August and September 2026.

The government combined ground, weather modification, and aerial operations to contain the fires, which have raised concerns over haze.

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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji