Total agricultural losses from the chaos wreaked by Typhoon Toraji is estimated at a massive NT$6.16 billion, with the central counties of Nantou, Hualien and Taichung suffering the heaviest toll, according to government statistics.
The ferocity of the storm which brought torrential rains causing flooding and landslides throughout the central and southern regions made it the most costly to the agriculture industry so far this year, according to the latest data from the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture.
Losses sustained by the agriculture industry from three previous typhoons this year, Trami in mid-July, Utor early last month and Chebi in late June were a comparatively modest NT$73 million and NT$95 million NT$456.8 million, respectively, according to the council.
Damage to farmers' crops, livestock, fish and forestry amounted to NT$1.77 billion, while estimated damage to equipment and facilities and the expected cost of repairs amounted to a gigantic NT$4.3 billion, according to the council.
A full 30 percent of the nation's farmland was either flooded or washed away in the torrential rains, the council said.
Nantou County suffered the worst with losses to crops and estimated costs for rebuilding amounted to NT$2.3 billion, according to the council.
Hualien County came in second with losses amounting to NT$990 million, followed by Taichung County with NT$947 million.
Bananas were the biggest casualties among the crops of fruit and vegetables, followed by pomelos, which will come into high demand in a couple of weeks during the Chinese Lunar calendar's Mid-autumn Festival.
Losses to livestock amounted to 10,490 hogs, 540,000 chickens, 4,000 turkeys and 183 goats, the council said.
The council has instructed local governments in most southern and central areas to provide NT$100,000 in compensation for every hectare of land washed away and NT$50,000 for every hectare buried under mud and rock.
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