Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/08/19
By: Yang Su-min and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Aug. 19 (CNA) Farmers have suffered at least NT$31 million (US$991,774) in losses following heavy rains in central and southern Taiwan, with Kaohsiung the hardest hit area with an estimated NT$22 million in losses, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said Monday.

Among other areas inundated by the heavy rain, Yunlin County suffered losses of at least NT$3.6 million, followed by losses of NT$1.7 million in Nantou County and NT$930,000 in losses in Pingtung County, the COA said in a statement.

The COA updates the numbers daily as more farmers report damage to crops, land and buildings on their land from the downpours that began on Aug. 12 and have persisted on and off into this week.

Among the estimated NT$31 million in losses reported so far, NT$23.7 million were to crops, with papayas, peanuts, bananas and watermelons the most heavily affected, according to the COA.
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