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Agricultural losses hit NT$380 million

The nation's agricultural losses following the recent cold spell have increased to NT$380 million (US$12.1 million) as a result of heavy aquaculture industry losses.

Fisheries losses grew to NT$223 million, the Council of Agriculture said on Saturday.

The figure shot up after more losses were reported by fish farmers and other farmers in Tainan City, Tainan and Chiayi counties, and Yilan County.

The council released statistics indicating that a series of cold snaps over the past several weeks, with temperatures dipping as low as 7oC, had also caused heavy damage to crops such as grafted pears, grapes, wax apples, peaches, rice seedlings, flowers, plums and leafy vegetables.

Around 2,100 hectares of farmland lost 33 percent of their crops, meaning 684 hectares of farmland will produce no harvest.

Pear buds suffered the heaviest damage, with farmers in Hsinchu County sustaining the largest losses, followed by those in Taichung, Yilan, Miaoli, Changhua, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Yunlin and Taoyuan counties.

Fisheries losses amounted to NT$223 million, with Penghu County alone suffering losses totaling more than NT$181 million, the statistics indicated.

Council officials said that the agency had launched relief measures to help affected farmers, including cash aid and low-interest loans.
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