Taiwan: Agricultural losses from recent downpours reach NT$577 million

Taipei, Aug. 15 (CNA) Agricultural losses due to torrential rainfall across Taiwan in recent days have reached NT$577 million (US$20.75 million) as of Sunday morning, with Chiayi County the worst hit, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA). Farmers in central and southern Taiwan sustained the heaviest crop and livestock losses and equipment damage from the heavy rainfall that has inundated Taiwan since Aug. 6, the COA said. Chiayi County was the hardest hit area, racking up NT$125 million in losses to date, COA data showed. Kaohsiung City and Nantou County have estimated losses of around NT$106 million, while Pingtung, Yunlin and Changhua counties and Tainan City also sustained more than NT$40 million in agricultural losses. Farmers growing papaya, guava and peanuts were the hardest hit, according to the COA. The livestock and poultry sector also incurred about NT$8.17 million in losses, mostly related to the raising of chickens, ducks and pigs, the COA said. Following the ...