Heavy Rain Causes Over NT$67.56 Million in Agricultural Damage, Peanuts Suffer Highest Loss of NT$15 Million

According to statistics from the Council of Agriculture, continuous heavy rains starting from June 8 have caused agricultural losses amounting to NT$67.56 million, with peanut crops sustaining the highest damage at NT$15 million.

In a press release, the Council of Agriculture stated that data compiled by the Agricultural Production and Marketing Division and the Forestry and Natural Conservation Agency, based on reports from municipalities and county governments between June 8 and 5:00 PM on June 16, estimated total losses to agricultural products and private facilities at NT$67.56 million.

The Council reported that estimated agricultural product losses reached NT$67.43 million, affecting 2,019 hectares of farmland with a damage rate of 17%. This equates to 341 hectares of completely unharvestable area. The most severely affected crop was peanuts, with 497 hectares damaged (21% damage rate), resulting in 104 hectares of unharvestable area and losses of NT$15 million. Other affected crops include first-season rice, papaya, taro, and watermelon.

Additionally, forest product losses amounted to NT$30,000 due to damaged trees, while private infrastructure losses totaled NT$90,000, primarily from damaged horizontal net houses.

By region, Pingtung County suffered the highest losses at NT$29.84 million (44% of total), followed by Yunlin County at NT$18.47 million (27%) and Tainan City at NT$8.88 million (13%).