Torrential rain hit Taiwan this week and caused widespread damage to crops and agricultural land, reports www.focustaiwan.tw.
Tropical storm Talim has to date wrought an estimated NT$870m (US$1bn) in agricultural losses, according to Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture, and crop losses are pegged at NT$669m (US$846m).
Fruit farms – persimmons, watermelons, papayas, grapes, bananas and wax apples – sustained severe damage due to heavy rain, the council said.
In total, some 23,642ha of farmland – 17 per cent of national acreage – was affected.
The rains also affected vegetable supplies and caused wholesale prices of leafy greens to rise 64 per cent on Friday (22 June), the report said.
In Taipei fruit and vegetable markets, prices averaged NT$24.7 per kg on Friday, up from NT$15.1 before the onset of the heavy rain around the island.
The Taiwanese government said refrigerated vegetables had been distributed across the island in an effort to maintain stable vegetable prices on the eve of the major Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday (June 23).
Demand for vegetables is expected to spike on Saturday since local markets will be closed for two days after the festival.
The government has reportedly activated subsidies and low-interest loans to affected farmers.
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