Frontal rainstorm hits Taiwan, agricultural losses reach 33.38 million; drone surveys to be launched for damage to first rice crop in Kaohsiung
The frontal system brought heavy rain, expanding agricultural damage. The Council of Agriculture compiled agricultural loss reports from counties and cities; as of the evening of the 21st, agricultural losses amounted to 33.38 million yuan, of which Kaohsiung City's agricultural losses reached 15.06 million, accounting for nearly half! Agricultural damage was mainly crop losses of 27.67 million yuan, with the first rice crop in harvest suffering the most, with losses exceeding 16 million yuan. The Council of Agriculture has announced cash relief measures; parts of Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, and Kaohsiung City can submit applications.
The damaged crop area has reached 830 hectares, with the first rice crop suffering the most damage, followed by papaya, watermelon, wild rice stem, and muskmelon. Premier Su Tseng-chang visited production areas in Xinwu and Guanyin Districts of Taoyuan on the 21st, instructing the Council of Agriculture and the Taoyuan City Government to complete damage surveys and issue relief funds as soon as possible to assist with replanting; Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung also visited the rice-growing area in Meinong to understand the situation, and requested that the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute launch drone damage surveys within 3 days after the announcement, with photos provided to the Southern Branch of the Agriculture and Food Agency and local offices to speed up the disaster compensation process.
The heavy rain arrived just as the first rice crop in Meinong, Qishan, and Shanlin areas was being harvested. The Kaohsiung City Agriculture Bureau initially estimated about 380 hectares damaged, with 300 hectares in Meinong. Rice is prone to sprouting on the panicle after lodging, and many farmers rush to harvest, making it difficult to determine the damage process. Yang Ya-hsun, section chief of the Crop Production Section of the Southern Branch of the Agriculture and Food Agency, explained that drones will first photograph the damaged area to shorten the time needed for office personnel to survey the damage, allowing farmers to receive cash relief as soon as possible.
According to disaster statistics from counties and cities, Kaohsiung's agricultural losses exceeded 15 million, the most severe, followed by Nantou County with 6.58 million yuan, Hsinchu County with 5.72 million yuan, Taoyuan City with 3.07 million yuan, and Tainan City and Taichung City both initially estimated at over 1 million yuan. Changhua County, Chiayi County, and New Taipei City also reported small-scale damage.
The Council of Agriculture has announced that Guanyin District and Xinwu District in Taoyuan City, and Xinfeng Township, Hukou Township, and Zhubei City in Hsinchu County are cash relief areas for muskmelon, cantaloupe, and watermelon; Yangmei District is a cash relief area for cantaloupe and watermelon; and rice in Meinong District, Qishan District, and Shanlin District of Kaohsiung City qualifies for cash relief.
In addition, the Council of Agriculture stated that if farmers need fertilizer for replanting, they can apply to their local farmers' association for subsidies of 12,000 yuan per hectare for organic fertilizer and 5,000 yuan per hectare each for microbial fertilizer and biological control materials. If they need funds for replanting, they can also apply for low-interest loans, and the branches of the Agriculture and Food Agency also have technical service teams to provide post-disaster replanting assistance.