Irrigation Channels
Irrigation Channels is a Fortress Age Food-gathering technology in the Asian Rice Paddy chain. After Paddy Threshing, it improves Villager gathering from Mills, Farms, Food Rice Paddies, Fields and Haciendas by 15%, and raises Hacienda automatic Food income by 15%.
Research profile
- Age
- Fortress Age
- Civilization
- Asians
- Research location
- Rice Paddy
- Prerequisite
- Paddy Threshing
- Research time
- 30 seconds
- Wood cost
- 150
- Coin cost
- 150
- Effect
- Villager gather work rate for Mill, Farm, Rice Paddy (food), Field (food), and Hacienda (food) +15%; Hacienda auto gather food work rate for food +15%
- Next technology
- Dike-Controlled Canals
Effect & research conditions
Research at a Rice Paddy for 150 Wood and 150 Coin over 30 seconds. The effect applies to the listed Food sources, not to Coin gathering or every form of Villager work. Dike-Controlled Canals is the next step in the chain. Hacienda automation benefits only an economy with Haciendas, while the other listed sources are available according to the civilization and map.
Research condition
Asian civilizations; Fortress Age; Rice Paddy; requires Paddy Threshing
When to research
Use it when Villagers are already gathering Food from the affected sources and will continue doing so long enough to recover the cost. Research after Paddy Threshing and before the next large food demand when possible. If most Food comes from hunting or fishing, this technology’s source-specific bonus may not improve the current economy much.
The Food side of the Paddy upgrades
Irrigation Channels belongs to the Food-gathering branch, distinct from the Rice Trade Coin chain. It improves Villager rates at Mills, Farms, Food Rice Paddies, Fields and Haciendas, and Hacienda’s automatic Food gathering. Keep the two upgrade chains separate when budgeting: researching Coin improvements does not satisfy the prerequisite for this Food sequence.
A foundation for later improvements
Dike-Controlled Canals follows Irrigation Channels, and Mechanized Rice Cultivation is listed after that. Completing this 30-second research supports a longer-term agricultural economy, but requires both resources and a Rice Paddy to remain available. Start the chain early enough for its later bonuses to matter.