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Monday, 31 March 2008 The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia’s On Farm Water Efficiency Project has been extended, with a second call for irrigators across the Murrumbidgee and Murray Valleys to nominate on farm works for potential funding. RGA President Les Gordon said the 2007 program identified more than 11,000 megalitres (ML) of water that could be returned to the Murray River through on farm improvements. This month the Murray Darling Basin Council provided a further $100,000 to the RGA to identify new projects. “This is a great opportunity for landholders to have an RGA Project Officer review their operations and work with them to identify projects that will increase water efficiency on farm and free up water for the environment,” said Mr Gordon. “In the last round we were able to secure funding for a broad range of projects, including piping open channels, implementing water recycling systems, converting flood irrigation to high tech drip horticulture, and changing irrigation layouts. “We’d like to hear from landholders across the Murrumbidgee and Murray Valleys who are interested in making improvements or changing their practices to save water. All irrigators, not just rice growers, are eligible.” Mr Gordon said the RGA’s On Farm Water Efficiency Project was the first industry-led project of its kind and demonstrated the commitment within the agricultural community to proactively manage water resources. “While our rice uses less water than any other country, water efficiency is always top of mind for us, particularly in this critical time of drought,” he said. “This project is a way of helping both our growers and the environment, as well as extending our expertise to other irrigators such as graziers and horticulturalists.” Funded by The Living Murray Initiative, the second stage of the RGA’s On Farm Water Efficiency Project will see Project Officers work with irrigators to audit their operations and nominate on farm improvements. Expressions of Interest – detailing proposed water efficiency projects – must be submitted by 9 May 2008. For more information, landholders can contact the RGA office on (02) 6953-0433. CONTACT |
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