The estimated agricultural losses resulting from the cold front that hit Taiwan last week has reached NT$3.3 billion (US$98.6 million), according to updated statistics released by the Council of Agriculture (COA) Sunday. The agricultural losses included NT$2.87 billion worth of losses in the fishery sector, the statistics showed. Tai Yu-yen (戴玉燕), secretary general of the COA, has pointed out that the agricultural losses caused by the cold spell on Jan. 22-25, has reached a new high since December 1999, in terms of damage caused by cold weather. In terms of areas, Tainan in southern Taiwan sustained the most severe damage by the cold wave, the most serious in a decade, with agricultural losses of NT$1.65 billion. It was followed by the losses in the value of NT$826 million in Kaohsiung, NT$350 million in Chiayi County, and NT$183 million in Pingtung County. Yunlin County also reported agricultural losses of NT$95.25 million, and Changhua County recorded losses of NT$93.15 million, according to the latest statistics. Last week's cold wave engulfed Taiwan over the weekend. Even weather stations in low-lying areas of Taipei, Hsinchu County and Chiayi County observed soft hail (graupel or snow pellets) for the first time since the stations were established. While new lows were not set in every area, all 28 weather stations around Taiwan recorded their lowest temperatures of this winter over the past weekend. Fishery losses were the largest among the sectors affected, the COA said. The data said the estimated losses in the segment hit NT$2.87 billion as of Sunday with milkfish, grouper, clams, tilapia, and striped bass being the hardest hit. Estimated crop losses totaled NT$430 million, the COA said, noting that a total of 7,650 hectares of crops were damaged, with grapes hit the hardest, followed by bell apples, pears, tomatoes and strawberries. Livestock damages totaled NT$690,000 from the loss of pigs, eggs, chickens, and young ostriches, while damages to agricultural facilities totaled NT$3.8 million due to the bad weather, according to the COA data. The council said that farmers who suffered losses caused by the cold spell are eligible to apply for financial aid during the Jan. 26-Feb. 4 period to help their production return to normal. Source - focustaiwan.tw