By Yang Yuan-ting / Staff reporter, with CNA
Agricultural losses caused by Typhoon Champi had reached NT$221.63 million (US$6.82 million) as of 11am yesterday, with garlic crops sustaining the heaviest damage, the Ministry of Agriculture said.
Crop losses accounted for NT$210.73 million, while livestock losses, primarily pigs, stood at NT$90,000, data compiled from local government reports by the ministry’s Agriculture and Food Agency and Department of Animal Industry showed.
Damage to private facilities reached NT$10.8 million, which included NT$8.57 million in livestock and poultry facilities and NT$2.23 million in agricultural infrastructure, such as horizontal trellises and plastic greenhouses, the ministry said.
Wind-damaged crops are pictured in Yunlin County yesterday after being battered by Typhoon Champi over the weekend.
Photo: Huang Shu-li, Taipei Times
Among crops, garlic sustained the most severe damage, with losses totaling NT$63.59 million.
Other heavily affected crops included peanuts (NT$15.91 million), onions (NT$11.65 million), tangerines (NT$11.51 million) and corn (NT$9.99 million).
By region, Yunlin County reported the heaviest agricultural losses at NT$137.07 million.
It was followed by Miaoli County (NT$24.83 million), Taichung (NT$20.42 million), New Taipei City (NT$16.18 million) and Yilan County (NT$9.38 million).
To mitigate the financial impact, the ministry announced cash relief and low-interest loans for nine municipalities: New Taipei City, Taoyuan and Taichung, as well as Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, Yilan and Taitung counties.
The subsidies cover crops, forestry, fisheries and livestock, the ministry said, adding that all agricultural products in Yilan County are eligible for the relief program.
The relief package also includes items that did not strictly meet weather parameter thresholds, but were confirmed to have sustained severe damage during on-site inspections, it said.