Agricultural losses resulting from Typhoon Krosa have reached a total of NT$4.3 billion (US$131.9 million), with 12 counties and cities entitled to financial aid and low-interest loans offered by the central government, according to statistics released on Friday by the Council of Agriculture (COA).
Krosa swept through Taiwan last Saturday, bringing strong wind and torrential rain.
CROPS
Rice paddies were the worst-hit product. Other crops such as bananas, grapes, persimmons, ponkan mandarin oranges, guavas, bell fruit and papayas also suffered serious damage, according to the COA.
The COA statistics also show that losses in fishery production have amounted to NT$42.14 million, with NT$10.8 million in damage to forestry.
Damage to fields and agricultural facilities have exceeded NT$163 million, while that of fishery facilities have reached NT$195 million, according to the tallies.
FARMERS
Farmers in Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taitung, Pingtung and Ilan are qualified to apply for government relief aid and low interest loans, while farmers in Hsinchu County and Tainan City are eligible to apply for low interest loans.
COA officials added that the council has also started buying unhusked rice damaged by Typhoon Krosa to help ease rice farmers' financial losses.
He added that the COA is continuing to release frozen vegetables and has asked farmers' associations to help farmers with harvests to meet post-typhoon market demand.
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