Prabowo Eyes 'Ubi Bombing' to Fight Wildfires: What Is It?

August 24, 2026 | 04:29 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has proposed developing a fire suppressant made from tuber-based flour as an alternative tool for tackling forest and land fires in Indonesia.

The proposal emerged during a coordination meeting on forest and land fire management in South Sumatra on Monday, when Prabowo asked the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) whether a substance more effective than water could be used to suppress fires.

“Is there a chemical substance that is more effective than water at smothering fires?” Prabowo asked during the meeting, which was monitored online from Jakarta.

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo then told the president about a previously developed flour-based material made from tubers, including cassava, which he said could help prevent fires and extinguish them in their early stages.

Prabowo Wants the Material Tested

Prabowo expressed interest in the material and called for further research to determine its effectiveness.

He also asked officials to pursue large-scale production and submit a budget proposal to support its development.

“The point is that it can suppress fires. It’s very interesting. The raw material is tubers, including cassava. Try producing it on a large scale,” Prabowo said.

Prabowo then jokingly referred to the concept as “ubi bombing,” presenting it as an alternative to the water bombingmethod used to fight forest and land fires from the air.

He asked officials to test whether the material could be deployed in large quantities using helicopters or aircraft to reach fire-affected areas.

An Alternative to Water Bombing?

Prabowo said Indonesia should continue exploring technological alternatives to strengthen its response to forest and land fires.

The government has been using helicopters for water bombing operations to combat fires in South Sumatra.

The president also instructed officials to assess conditions on the ground and request additional assistance when needed.

For now, the ubi-based material remains a proposal that requires further research and testing before its potential use on a larger scale can be determined.

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