The heavy rains in Taiwan in the second of half of May caused approximately NT$15.14 million (US$517,471) in damage to crops across the country, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said Sunday.

The hardest hit area was Pingtung County, where the crop damage was estimated at NT$4.23 million, followed by Taoyuan with losses of NT$2.71 million, the COA said, citing data from its Agriculture and Food Agency.

Taichung suffered estimated losses of NT$2.65 million, Changhua County NT$2.01 million, Chiayi County NT$1.6 million, and Yunlin County NT$1.23 million, the COA said.

The total estimated losses of NT$15.14 million was based on rain damage on approximately 405 hectares of crops, 82 hectares of which were not salvageable, according to the COA.

Dragon fruit farms were the most heavily affected, with an estimated NT$4.49 million in losses across 35 hectares, the COA said, adding that 9 hectares of the crop were completely destroyed.

Watermelons were the second hardest hit, with losses of NT$4.41 million, followed by edamame with an estimated NT$1.59 million in damage, hami melon NT$1.36 million, and kyoho grapes NT$1.23 million, the COA said.

In May, Taiwan recorded an average rainfall of 477.5 millimeters.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel