About RGA

Uniting Australian rice growers: 1930 – 1950

The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) was formed in 1930 during the early years of the rice industry, turning a small group of pioneering rice growers into an effective and cohesive force.

After the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area Ricegrowers’ Cooperative Society suffered severe financial losses at the hands of Sydney and Melbourne based rice milling companies, disillusioned growers met in Leeton and disbanded the Cooperative. In its place they formed the RGA, an association designed to protect their interests and investigate ways to secure the future prosperity of the rice industry.

Initially, the RGA focused on building infrastructure to enable growers to mill and market their own rice. It was instrumental in the development of the Ricegrowers’ Cooperative in 1950 (now better known as SunRice) and the Leeton rice mill which opened the following year.

Role of the RGA today

Rice growers continue to need the support of the RGA to maintain and promote the industry as one of Australia’s most successful rural sectors.

Today, the RGA’s role involves:

• Developing and implementing policy for the rice industry which is in the growers’ best interests.
• Representing the interests of rice growers to federal, state and local governments, as well as farm lobby groups, SunRice and the community in general.
• Servicing the specific needs of individual members.

 
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