June 22, 2012

Taiwan suffers agricultural losses due to heavy rain

Taiwan's agricultural losses have amounted to US$18.34 million as heavy rain affects the island nation, according to statistics released by the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture.

The livestock sector recorded losses valuing EUR282,300 (US$354,476), with the death of around 700 pigs and 70,000 chickens, while the fishery sector suffered losses of EUR2.172 million (US$2.7 million), mainly due to the damage of oyster farms in Taoyuan County, northern Taiwan.

Meanwhile, crop losses reached EUR9.40 million (US$11.8 million), with 14,343 hectares of crops land being damaged, according to the government agency, with rice paddies, persimmons, watermelons, papayas, leafy vegetables and tomatoes succumbing most seriously to heavy rain and flooding.