June Heavy Rains Cause Agricultural Losses Exceeding NT$330 Million, Pingtung Suffers Most

(CNA, Reporter Wang Shu-fen, Taipei, June 29) The Ministry of Agriculture has reported that heavy rains last week have caused agricultural losses nationwide to exceed NT$200 million. Including the heavy rains from early to mid-June, total agricultural losses have surpassed NT$330 million.

The Ministry of Agriculture issued a press release today stating that according to data compiled by the Bureau of Agricultural Products and Food, Fisheries Agency, and Department of Animal Industry from reports submitted by various municipalities and county governments regarding the impact of last week's heavy rains, as of 11:00 AM today, estimated losses to agricultural products and private facilities total NT$202.48 million. Pingtung County suffered the most with NT$135.97 million in losses, followed by Kaohsiung City with NT$50.99 million, Tainan City with NT$6.97 million, and Taoyuan City with NT$6.16 million.

Regarding agricultural product losses, the Ministry of Agriculture estimates NT$157.18 million (including NT$300,000 in beekeeping losses). The affected area for crops is 1,712 hectares, with a damage severity of 24%, equivalent to 419 hectares of unharvested area. The primary crop affected was guava, with an affected area of 231 hectares, a damage severity of 28%, equivalent to 63 hectares of unharvested area, and losses amounting to NT$37.37 million. Other affected crops include papaya, banana, bitter melon, and lemon.

The Ministry of Agriculture estimates livestock losses at NT$10.15 million, with chickens being the most affected poultry, accounting for NT$4.29 million in losses, followed by ducks and pigs. Fishery product losses are estimated at NT$35.08 million, primarily affecting groupers, with losses of NT$10.58 million, followed by freshwater prawns and silver pomfret.

Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture estimates losses to private facilities at NT$70,000, farmland loss and inundation at NT$10,000, and agricultural facility losses at NT$60,000 (mainly due to damage to horizontal net houses in Kaohsiung City).

The Ministry of Agriculture stated that when cumulative losses from heavy rains since June 8th to mid-June are included, agricultural losses from June to date have reached NT$332.943 million. Pingtung County alone accounted for NT$176.102 million. Other areas with losses exceeding NT$10 million include Kaohsiung City with NT$59.14 million, Yunlin with NT$33.252 million, Tainan City with NT$24.53 million, and Taoyuan City with NT$19.034 million. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150629

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