Estimated at US$ 3.61 million
Farming losses in Taiwan after cold spell
Damaged crops made up the bulk of the losses, totalling NT$ 84.96 million over 1,382 hectares of farmland. Especially hard-hit were tomatoes and bell fruit, followed by citrus and jujube. Kaohsiung suffered the heaviest agricultural losses around Taiwan, with damage estimated at NT$ 2.41 million, followed by Hsinchu County, which reported NT$ 1.85 million-worth of losses.
As of late 2017, Taiwan had devoted 3,800 hectares of farmland for bell fruit cultivation, including 2,800 hectares in Pingtung County. The cold snap has forced farmers to harvest bell fruit earlier than usual before they could be damaged, resulting in a sharp fall in the price of the fruit.
Focustaiwan.tw reported that despite this, bell fruit farmers are not eligible to receive compensation from the COA to mitigate their losses, according to COA regulations governing relief subsidies for farmers affected by natural disasters.
[ NT$ 100 = US$ 3.42 ]
