Strong Winds and Heavy Rain Expand Fruit Drop and Cracking Damage
Typhoon薔琵 brought strong winds and heavy rain, causing明显的 fallen fruit, cracked fruit and broken branches in Miaoli County citrus production areas. According to county statistics, the maximum gust in the county reached 12級, and the maximum 24-hour accumulated rainfall reached 463毫米. Township offices preliminarily reported about 241公頃 of citrus damage, with an average damage rate of about 20%, and estimated losses of 1999萬7000元. 10月 is the fruit enlargement 及成熟 stage for citrus, when strong winds can easily cause fruit drop, branch breakage and even plant lodging. If heavy rain suddenly falls after a long drought, thin-skinned varieties such as茂谷柑 and帝王柑 are more prone to cracking, affecting yield and quality.
Major Production Area With Annual Output Value Exceeding 11億元
Miaoli County is a major citrus production area, with varieties including ponkan, tankan,茂谷柑,帝王柑, sugar mandarin and pomelo types, covering 1572公頃 county-wide with an annual output value of about 11.68億元. Among them, Zhuolan Township has the most with 487公頃, accounting for more than 30% of the county, followed by Dahu Township with 379公頃 and Sanwan Township with 143公頃. After the disaster, County Magistrate鍾東錦 on the afternoon of 27日, together with Agriculture Department Director陳樹義, invited Agriculture and Food Agency North Region Branch Director林傳琦 and Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station Director施佳宏 to inspect帝王柑 damage at a citrus orchard next to the Beikeng Community Activity Center in Touwu Township. Legislator邱鎮軍 and several councilors, as well as Touwu Township Farmers Association General Secretary謝金德, were also present.
Central Cash Relief Announced, County Considering Additional Subsidy
The Ministry of Agriculture on 10月26日, pursuant to Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Agricultural Natural Disaster Relief Measures, announced cash relief measures for farm crops in Miaoli County, with 柑橘類每公頃救助9萬5000元 county-wide, 高粱每公頃2萬8000元 county-wide, and 苑裡鎮、通霄鎮及後龍鎮食用玉米每公頃4萬1000元.鍾東錦 said, considering farmers burden in clearing fallen fruit, he discussed on-site with councilors having the county government add 每公頃2萬元 in fallen-fruit cleanup fees to reduce losses and protect livelihoods.
Other Crop Damage Also Inventoried to Seek Relief
In addition to already announced items, as of 27日 township offices reported other affected crops and facilities including Yuanli soybeans, Shitan仙草, Shitan and Dahu strawberries, Yuanli茭白筍 and edible tomatoes and taro, Miaoli City胡瓜, Tongxiao絲瓜 and bananas, Sanyi and Yuanli and Xihu rice, Yuanli other vegetables 辣椒, and Shitan agricultural facility plastic sheeting, totaling 376公頃 affected, with an average damage rate of 22% and estimated losses of 2573萬9000元. The county government said it will promptly compile items meeting survey standards, invite the survey team for appraisal and seek central relief. Affected farmers may apply for subsidies at their local township office from 10月27日至11月9日.