Agricultural losses from torrential rain brought by a stationery front hovering above Taiwan over the weekend had reached an estimated NT$57.52 million (US$1.95 million) as of Sunday, according to an initial estimate released by the Council of Agriculture (COA). As of 5 p.m., agricultural losses as a result of the damage were heaviest in Yunlin County at NT$24.21 million, or 42 percent of the national total, the COA said. Farmers in New Taipei suffered NT$13.33 million in losses, or 23 percent of the total, according to the COA figures. Nantou reported NT$9.58 million in agricultural losses, ahead of Chiayi, with NT$4.23 million in losses, the COA data shows. (Chiayi County government estimated the county's loss at NT$42.26 million as of 3 p.m. Sunday.) Crop damage accounted for most of the losses, according to the COA, with at least 2,462 hectares of farmland and NT$30.74 million-worth of crops damaged, the COA said. The COA said rice growers took the biggest hit, suffering crop losses of NT$11.81 million and damage to 1,340 hectares of farmland. Growers of watermelons, peanuts, corn and leafy vegetables also suffered heavy losses, the COA said. The livestock sector faced NT$5.5 million in losses, largely due to losses of chickens and ducks, the COA said, adding that losses in fish products reached NT$1.76 million. The COA said damage to agricultural facilities and farmland totaled at least NT$2.001 million, mainly due to fields being buried or washed away, with damage to farmland accounting for NT$1.998 million of the total, mainly in New Taipei and Yunlin County. The COA said that it will offer subsidies for farmers with 20 percent or more of their crops damaged, in accordance with the Agricultural Natural Disaster Relief Regulations, with damaged rice farmland eligible for NT$18,000 per hectare in subsidies. Meanwhile, watermelon farmers will qualify for NT$60,000 per hectare in subsidies for lost crops, while peanut and corn farmers will be paid NT$24,000 and NT$36,000 per hectare, respectively. Vegetable farmers will be offered subsidies ranging from NT$24,000-NT$50,000 per hectare. The COA will begin accepting applications for the subsidies from Monday for 10 days until June 14. Source - http://focustaiwan.tw