Taiwan's livestock sectors struggle after Typhoon Morakot's attack

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) has estimated that the country's agricultural sector has suffered losses of up to US$273 million as of August 13 due to the Typhoon Morakot attack.

 

COA officials said the figure is the second-highest since 1991, when the council started to keep such records. They added that the worst agricultural disaster was caused by Typhoon Herb in 1996 which left agricultural losses of NT$18.08 billion.

 

Poultry and livestock losses caused by Typhoon Morakot reached NT$1.32 billion, with 118,143 hogs, 5.7 million chickens and 1.07 million ducks perishing in the storm.

 

Chen Wu-hsiung, minister of COA, said it might take a long time for the poultry, livestock and aquaculture sectors to recover. He added that the COA estimates about five to six weeks for poultry farmers to resume production, while pig farmers and aquaculture breeders might not return to full speed for six months.

 

Meanwhile, the damage to crops amounted to NT$3.33 billion, with 26 per cent of the crops on 62,574 hectares of farmland lost, according to COA estimates.

 

Banana plantations suffered the worst damage, with 5,649 hectares destroyed by strong winds and flooding, which were followed by papayas, guavas, custard apples, rice, bamboo shoots and leafy vegetables.

 

An estimated 684 hectares of farmland worth NT$665.7 million were washed away, with the eastern county of Taitung suffering the most with 524 hectares buried under debris or displaced by floodwater.

 

The agricultural losses also included an estimated NT$174 million in damage to farming facilities.

 

Statistics from the COA also showed that the aquaculture sector incurred an estimated NT$3.93 billion in financial losses, an 18-year high for losses caused by a single storm.

 

A combined 8,381 hectares of fish farms in southern Taiwan were severely damaged, with 1,231 hectares being coastal fish ponds.

 

According to Chen, farmers in the typhoon-hit cities and counties will be entitled to cash relief and also eligible for low-interest disaster loans.

 

Additionally, those with existing agricultural credit and low-interest disaster loans will be able to extend their principal and interest loan terms for one more year, while the Agricultural Trust Fund guarantees for 90 percent.

 

US$1=NT$32.968 (Aug 17)