Typhoon Morakot’s tempestuous path through Taiwan has caused over NT$5bn (US$153.7m) in damage to the country’s agricultural sector, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA).
An average 25 per cent of crops and fruit were destroyed by the typhoon in the affected area of 43,527ha.
Vegetables were hit harder that fruit, as significant amounts of fruit had been harvested prior to the typhoon. However, local vegetables are expected to return to the market in about one month.
For fruits bananas, papaya and melons were the worst affected said the COA.
The price of fresh produce has shot up, although there are enough supplies in cold storage to keep the market moving for the next few days; around 7,700 tonnes on Tuesday, reported the China Post.
“Next week the market is likely to have a shortage, and the demand for imported produce will be bigger,” a Taipei-based fruit importer told Fruitnet.
“But in 2-3 weeks the market may be oversupplied again with too many imports coming in.”
For the moment, the typhoon has turned the situation around for imported fruit. Just a week or two ago, imports were struggling with the large volume of the low-priced, good quality local harvest.
That’s all changed now, according to importers, who say the demand for imported fruit on the wholesale market has risen significantly.
Typhoon Morakot has also hit areas in southeast China, although the level of agricultural damage is currently unknown.
