Torrential rain causes agricultural and fishery losses across Taiwan exceeding 600 million; Zhangtan Village in Chiayi flooded chest-deep, fish ponds breached and fish escaped
When the floodwaters came, pigs at livestock farms had nowhere to flee and drowned, their carcasses piling up like mountains; meanwhile, farmed fish such as milkfish and tilapia swam away with the overflowing rainwater. Hard-hit fishermen in southern Taiwan all pointed out that the rain came too fast and too suddenly, coinciding with high tide, "the fish pond embankments breached and overflowed, several hectares of ponds flooded into one big pool."
Jiang Longzi, a Taiwan tilapia fisherman in Zhangtan Village, Dongshi, Chiayi County, said Zhangtan Village was the worst flooded, "it is now the fifth day, and the flooding still has not receded, the water is still at chest level." More than 200 people in the village were evacuated and are temporarily staying at nearby temples.
Disaster reports are coming in from everywhere and may affect prices. In response, the Council of Agriculture also held a press conference today (the 27th) stressing that agricultural, fishery and livestock supply is assured. Lin Guoping, deputy director-general of the Fisheries Agency, pointed out that fishery losses were mainly from fish pond overflow and fish loss, but the damaged area is only 2-3%, with little impact on overall seafood supply, and opening market prices are stable. However, due to the delayed disaster problem, it is impossible to know exactly how many fish remain in the ponds, and the disaster loss figure may continue to climb.
Council of Agriculture: Livestock supply stable, will not impact prices
Torrential rain has caused disaster reports from everywhere, with fishery losses exceeding 300 million, livestock losses nearly 200 million, possibly causing price increases. The Council of Agriculture urgently held a press conference. Chen Jizhong pointed out at the meeting that in the livestock sector, the loss of pigs this time is no more than 10,000 head, while the national pig herd in raising reaches 5.5 million head, so the current loss will not affect supply. Also, demand is highest during the Ghost Festival, and it will return to normal after the festival. As for chickens, ducks and geese, about 1.5 million were lost, but this is a low proportion of the national rearing number and has little impact on overall supply.
Wang Zhongshu, deputy director of the Animal Industry Department, pointed out that it is currently estimated that tomorrow's opening market supply of hogs can still reach 23,000 head, maintaining normal trading volume. Even though the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, demand is still lower than during the Ghost Festival, and supply is expected to be normal, "the disaster loss impact is limited." As for free-range chickens, prices were previously poor and there was an oversupply problem; now prices are flat, and white broilers are in the same situation, "there is no upward pressure in the short term." However, after school starts in September, increased egg demand may cause some fluctuation, which will be closely watched going forward.
On the fishery side, Chen Jizhong explained that the damaged area for tilapia, milkfish and sea bass accounts for only 3% of the national total aquaculture area, and fishery products have strong substitutability, so there will be no supply shortage problem, and prices remain at normal levels. Lin Guoping, deputy director-general of the Fisheries Agency, pointed out that fishery losses were mainly from fish pond overflow and fish loss, but the damaged area is only 2-3%, with little impact on overall seafood supply, and opening market prices are stable. However, due to the delayed disaster problem, it is impossible to know exactly how many fish remain in the ponds, and the disaster loss figure may continue to climb.
Chen Jizhong: Agricultural grain and vegetable prices stable
Regarding the agricultural grain sector, Chen Jizhong explained that although the disaster losses from this torrential rain are mainly concentrated in Chiayi and Tainan, these two areas are not major agricultural grain and vegetable production areas, "Yunlin supplies nearly 30% of the nation's vegetables, but this time it is not a flood-affected area, so overall agricultural grain response is still workable." The affected vegetable area this time reached 185 hectares, but the annual vegetable production area reaches 150,000 hectares, accounting for only 0.1%; the affected fruit area is 111 hectares, but the annual production area is 180,000 hectares. Damage to Tainan Madou pomelo is also less than 10%, so it is not seriously damaged.
"Rain was light in the main vegetable production areas of Taoyuan, Yunlin and Changhua, and supply of napa cabbage and short-term leafy vegetables is stable." On actual wholesale market opening prices, Hu Zhongyi, director of the Agriculture and Food Agency, pointed out that the average trading price at the Xiluo Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market last Thursday was 27 yuan per kilogram; after being closed for three days, the opening price this Monday was 41 yuan. At the Taipei Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market, the price last Friday was 29 yuan per kilogram, and last Saturday 40 yuan. "Xiluo was mainly because of consecutive market closures, so consignees had no inventory, while Taipei was due to increased demand plus expectations of southern flooding causing stockpiling." But in fact, this year because of good weather and high yields, vegetable prices were low before the torrential rain, and now they are just returning to normal levels.