Growing Tea with Data, Yield Doubled: Natural Tea Manor in Sijhih Utilizes Smart Agriculture to Revitalize a Century-Old Tea Plantation

Natural Tea Manor, located in Sijhih, New Taipei City, is one of the iconic landmarks of this century-old tea region spanning Nangang and Sijhih. Boasting a high Google Maps rating of 4.3 stars with over 700 reviews, it is deeply loved by both local and visiting customers. After fourth-generation tea farmer Tsai Hsu-chih returned to his hometown to take over the business, he shifted from traditional tea processing to sod culture organic farming and tea-infused culinary experiences. He has also progressively introduced smart agricultural technology, hoping to restore glory to this gradually fading tea mountain.

Tsai Hsu-chih is also a partner farmer of New Taipei City's "Surplus Food Restaurant" initiative and a model tea farmer for regional revitalization. He has been awarded Model Farmer, won the Grand Prize in tea competitions, and was even invited to the Philippines to attend the Asian Organic Congress to share the application methods and results of smart agricultural systems. He had originally planned to collaborate with an agrotech company to introduce smart irrigation and monitoring equipment, but the process faced setbacks. It was not until he discovered AgriWeather through Facebook that his journey into data-driven farming truly began, successfully securing subsidy resources along the way.

To read more exciting stories about Tsai Hsu-chih's tea cultivation, please click the links in the Further Reading section below. 🔗
Or visit the 👉 Natural Tea Manor Facebook page to learn more!



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1. Fragmented Terrain and Labor-Intensive Irrigation: The tea plantations are scattered across fragmented terrain, and water supply relies heavily on mountain springs and manual irrigation. Traditional watering methods require hours each day just to inspect the fields and manage water pipes, resulting in extremely low operational efficiency.
2. Challenges in Promoting Grass Cover Cultivation: Although adopting Grass Cover Cultivation offers advantages in water retention and soil stabilization, the lack of data to prove its effectiveness often leads to the misconception that grass competes with tea trees for nutrients and reduces yields, making it difficult to advocate for.
3. Escalating Climate Risks and Severe Droughts: The frequency of extreme weather events in the Sijhih area has risen in recent years, with consecutive spring droughts occurring between 2021 and 2023. Among these, the 2021 drought was classified by the Central Weather Administration as "one of the most severe spring droughts in recent years." According to statistics from the Agriculture and Food Agency, the total disaster-affected area for tea nationwide reached 2,236 hectares in 2023, with financial losses soaring to nearly NT$200 million. Climate risks have now posed a tangible threat to tea farmers' production.

Precisely because the tea plantation faces the aforementioned difficulties, Natural Tea Manor chose to introduce the smart agricultural tools provided by AgriWeather. By leveraging real-time sensing, remote control, and visualized data, they hope to solve the challenges of "labor shortages, lack of supporting data, and inability to respond to climate conditions."



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1. Weather Station
   • This device automatically updates information such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, and wind speed every 10 minutes.
2. Soil Sensor 3-in-1
   • This tool detects soil temperature and moisture content within the root zone, helping farmers understand the water absorption depth of tea trees and enabling precise irrigation and fertilization strategies. It measures the differences in temperature and humidity between areas with and without Grass Cover Cultivation in the tea seedling zone, assisting in establishing management guidelines.
3. Remote Irrigation Control System
   • This system automatically controls overhead irrigation timing and water volume. Traditionally, managing an area of 5 fen (approx. 0.5 hectares) required two people spending 2 hours commuting back and forth every day. Now, it has been switched to remote operation, effectively saving labor and time.
4. Time-Lapse Cameras and Data Visualization
   • These tools record changes in the tea plantation, serving as supporting data to compare the environmental impacts and effectiveness of Grass Cover Cultivation. The system data can be visualized, making it easy to communicate the origins of quality to customers, buyers, and competition judges.



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1. Doubled Yield: From 500 catties → 900–1,000 catties annually
   • The annual yield of the 5 fen (approx. 0.5 hectares) plot increased from around 500 catties per year between 2018 and 2020 to a stable 900–1,000 catties annually in 2025, successfully achieving a doubled yield.
   • The combination of precision fertilization, the Grass Cover Cultivation strategy, and remote irrigation has significantly enhanced growth efficiency and stability.
2. Proving the Feasibility of Organic Farming with Data and Grass Cover Strategies
   • When Tsai Hsu-chih initially introduced grass cover farming, he specifically set up a controlled experiment comparing a grass cover zone with a traditional zone, using AgriWeather's sensors to record various data points.
   • The results showed that the root depth in the grass cover zone averaged 50 cm—which is 20 cm deeper than the conventionally managed zone—and the soil moisture content was also significantly higher.
   • Having confirmed that the grass cover strategy effectively retains water and promotes root development, he then fully implemented it across the entire tea plantation's management.
3. Saving 4 Hours of Labor per Day, Boosting Farm Efficiency by Over 50%
   • Traditional watering required two people commuting back and forth, taking 2 hours each time.
   • With remote operation, irrigation can be completed with just a few settings. This saves 3 to 4 hours of farm work daily, boosting operational efficiency by more than 50%.

From the very first test, Tsai Hsu-chih was never just a passive user, but a true partner who stood shoulder to shoulder with us to adjust equipment and refine data presentation. During every follow-up visit, he always prepared his own observations and never hesitated to share his questions and ideas.

For AgriWeather, this kind of interaction is exactly the model of collaboration that we strive for. We do not just provide technology; we want to be a trusted partner whom farmers are eager to discuss with—allowing data to not only grow from the fields, but also take root within human trust.



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Q1: How much does it cost to install an automated irrigation system?
A1: Automated irrigation systems are typically based on a "customized quote," determined by the size of the field, terrain, water source configuration, and the number of equipment units required. If a control panel configuration is not needed, a system can be set up for under NT$100,000. For smaller fields that require an additional control panel, the price ranges from approximately NT$150,000 to NT$250,000. The cost will be higher for larger fields or those requiring multi-zone control. But don’t worry—we will discuss your needs to provide the most suitable recommendations and quotes, and we can also assist with applying for government subsidies!

Q2: Is the automated irrigation system only suitable for growing tea?
A2: No. As long as your crops rely on weather and water sources, or require an emphasis on quality traceability—such as pomelos, fruits, and flowers—they are highly suitable for implementation.

Q3: What is Grass Cover Cultivation?
A3: Grass Cover Cultivation is a farming method that retains natural grass rows between the tea trees to coexist with them. It helps maintain soil moisture, reduces soil erosion, and promotes the healthy development of root and microbial systems. It is a sustainable agricultural practice that balances environmental protection with productivity.

Q4: Will Grass Cover Cultivation reduce crop yields?
A4: Real-world data from Natural Tea Manor shows that the grass-covered zones did not experience a reduction in yield. Instead, the practice promoted root growth, retained moisture, and lowered temperatures, which actually helped achieve a stable increase in yield.

Q5: Do non-organic farms also need smart agriculture?
A5: Absolutely. As long as you need to manage irrigation, fertilization, and estimate costs, this system can make your management more precise and highly efficient.



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If you are a farmer, agricultural school, cooperative, or corporate farm interested in learning more about smart agriculture applications and subsidy options, please feel free to contact us!

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