Risk assessment of crops damaged by rainstorms during Mei-Yu season.

Influences of rainstorms to agriculture during Mei-Yu season in Taiwan were only next to those affected by Typhoons. Farmers' expected profits were minimized or totally lost when hit by a rainstorm. Therefore, risks of rainstorms have to be considered when estimating time required for return of an investment. In this study, risks of rainstorms to major food crops, vegetables and fruits produced in the southwest region of Taiwan were estimated. Computed spatial distribution of probabilities of rainstorm occurrence in this region and county-averaged percentage of different crops damaged by rainstorms were data used in estimating processes. Results showed that averaged risks of rainstorms to all crops were 23% in Tainin and Chiayi counties while those in Changhwi and Yunlin counties were only 17%. Averaged risks of vegetables and fruits were 25% and those of food crops were 16% in this region.