After that, people in Toyooka (the former Kaketsuka-cho) in the former Ryuyo-cho learned that raising ebi-imo was bringing substantial income to the Kegojima area, and Hiroshi ITO, the head of the farmers' cooperative of the former Ryuyo-cho, grew it from in 1938 to 39 and produced good potatoes, after the start the cultivation of ebi-imo in this area greatly developed.
その後、気子島地区では海老芋栽培によって高収入をあげていることが旧竜洋町豊岡（旧掛塚町）に伝わり、昭和13～14年にかけて、当時の旧竜洋町農業協同組合長、伊藤弘氏がこれを栽培し、良好な成績を得たのをきっかけに、この地域における海老芋栽培は大きく発展した。