Flooding triggered by seasonal downpours over the past few days
had caused an estimated 467.16 million new Taiwan dollars (some
US$14.37 million) in economic losses with the agricultural sector
of Taiwan by Saturday, according to reports reaching here from
Taipei.
The crops most devastated by the flooding include watermelons,
rice, pears, citrus, persimmons, grapes, green onions and leafy
vegetables, the reports said, adding that some 15,000 hectares of
farmland have been affected by the flooding.
Much fallow farmland in central and southern Taiwan has been
washed away or inundated, and many poultry ranches have suffered
major damage, leaving at least 18,000 chickens dead, the reports
said.
Meanwhile, watermelon and cantaloupe growers in Miaoli County,
who have sustained the greatest losses among local farmers, are
entitled to cash subsidies for their losses, while rice farmers and
fruit growers in Hsinchu County can apply for soft loans for
rehabilitation, the reports said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2006)