A number of vegetable producers at Tokachi province in the south-eastern part of Hokkaido, heavily battered by Typhoon No.10 at the end of this August, had their vegetables totally damaged. Most of the vegetables growing in the areas hit by the Typhoon have been covered by floodwater and mud.
A burdock root farm has been totally damaged by Typhoon floodwaters. At a corner of the farmland (upper part of the photo), drainage works are still continuing on August 2. (Makubetsu-cho in Tokachi Province, Hokkaido prefecture)
Some farmers began to clean up the vegetables scattered around on the farm, but other producers are keeping away from their farmlands, where the floodwater has not yet receded.
There are some vegetable farms escaping from heavy damages, but it is still difficult for owners of these farms to begin insect pest controlling. They are worried there may be an outbreak of diseases and harmful insects due to rises in temperature and humidity.
Kyu-Tobetsu River and Sarubetsu River, running through a town called Makubetsu-cho in the province, overflew at a junction of the two rivers after heavy rains were brought by the Typhoon. Almost of vegetable producing areas in the town were swallowed up by the floodwater.
Takayoshi Watanabe, 61, growing lettuce and cabbage on 26-hectare farmlands, had his house flooded by heavy rains brought by the Typhoon. He and his family members were evacuated from their house by boat.
When he came back to home with his family members after the floodwater receded, he found out that all of his vegetable farms near his home were almost completely destroyed.
“We cannot sell any of vegetables covered by mud. I have never experienced a tragic flood damage like this,” Takayoshi Watanabe said and bit his lips on bitter disappointment.