The twin impact of cold weather and continued rain since the middle of last month are estimated to have caused NT$699 million worth of damage in the agricultural sector, the Council of Agriculture said in a statement yesterday.
As of 3pm of yesterday, the cold temperature has delivered a significant blow to farmlands in Ilan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung and Nantou counties, with farm losses rising to NT$693.3 million and fishery losses to NT$5.7 million, according to statistics compiled by the council.
Miaoli County reported the most farm damage with NT$231.5 million, followed by Nantou County with NT$212.7 million and Taichung County with NT$167.5 million, the council added.
PHOTO: LEE CHIN-LUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
After visiting farms in Miaoli and Nantou yesterday morning, Council of Agriculture Chairman Lee Chin-lung (
Lee said the council will negotiate with government agencies to offer cash subsidies or low-interest rate loans to farmers affected by the cold snap.
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