◆《Early period of cultivation- Tian-Tian tillage method (Weather reliance)》

Houbi Town cultivation began as early as the Ming-Cheng Period. After Ching Dynasty, cultivated lands expanded in size. In accordance with bibliographical data recorded during Ching Dynasty, there are 5 farm ponds in Houbi Town completed during Kang Shi period. It shows that water rice field cultivation took place during early Ching Dynasty in Houbi Town. However, the Ching hydraulic facilities were rather simple at the time and were not durable. Irrigation zones were quite limited as well. Therefore most rice fields relied on the “weather” for tillage. It is otherwise known as the “Tian-Tian” type of tillage method.
　

◆《Chia-Nan Irrigation River construction- began rice,Sugarcane, and multi- grain tillage in 3-year crop rotation》

During Japanese colonization in Taiwan, the colonial policy of “Industrialization in Japan and Agricultural Development in Taiwan” was adopted. In 1920, the Japanese government began Guang-Tian creek reservoir and canal construction in the vast Chian-Nan Plains.（Wushantou Reservoir and Chia-Nan River） The entire water control project took 10 years to complete. (Completed in 1993) After the waters started to flow, the supposedly dry rice fields became water rice fields as it received abundant irrigation waters. The Irrigation Zone is said to be 15,000 acres.
Although Wushantou Reservoir and Chia-Nan River were the largest water control projects in Taiwan, due to natural environment limitations (vast tillage land and small water collection areas), the river water supply failed to meet the needs of Irrigation Zones. Therefore the 3-year crop rotation planting method was adopted to conserve water source. Houbi Town was subsequently included as part of the 3-year crop rotation confines. In accordance with records of Houbi town, the crop rotation method was planting rice, yam, and sugarcane in crop rotation. The Japanese actively engaged in sugar industrial developments in Taiwan to increase raw material supply in the society. Peasants were pressured and forced to plant sugarcane continuously without rest.
　

The river designer“Ha Ta Yo I Chi”  is known as the River Father.  Each year, a memorial meeting  is held in memory of him.	Reservoir water flows in  sequence into river mainstreams  and tributaries, sub-tributaries,  and water ways before flowing  into rice fields

◆《After Zengwun Reservoir was completed, water supply increased –“Double Paddy Crops for Every Year” was adopted》

After Taiwan retrocession, the same agricultural method adopted was generally adopted. With inadequate water source and government promotion of sugarcane planting, peasants of Houbi Town had little chance to plant rice. By October, 1973, another reservoir in Chia-Nan Plain, Zengwun Resrervoir was completed and ready to conserve water. It operated in collaboration with Wushantou Reservoir. Ever since, the water supply increased abundantly, and it effectively solved the problem of irrigation water inadequacy of Wushantou Reservoir.
Due to irrigation water supply changes, Chia-Nan Irrigation Association also altered the existing irrigation system. With the exception of few tillage lands in Houbi Town that engage in double paddy crops for every 3 years, the rest of the lands were included as part of the Double Paddy Crops for Every Year zone. Rice planting is done every year. The original single paddy crop (second stage) became double paddy crop (first and second stage). The rice production volume chart below shows that after Zengwun Reservoir started supplying water, the first stage crop volume increased 6-fold. As production volume rapidly increased, rice became the main crop of Houbi Town, which in turn became the largest rice storehouse in Tainan County.