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Friday, 29 May 2009 The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia Inc (RGA) has reacted cautiously to yesterday’s announcement by the Federal Government of the purchase of 240 GL of water entitlements from the Twynam Agricultural Group. RGA President, Les Gordon, said while the purchase was from a willing seller, this large quantity of water leaving irrigated agriculture in New South Wales is a bitter pill for many irrigation farmers to swallow. “Irrigation farmers in NSW can see nothing but water leaving their districts and large agricultural businesses exiting irrigated agriculture in their regions. For many farmers this leaves a big question mark over the future of irrigated agriculture.” Mr Gordon said. Mr Gordon noted that the Federal Government claims that this is a win for the environment and for irrigated agriculture. “Many farmers are wondering just how this purchase can possibly be a win for them or their communities. Inevitably this must lead to a run down in regional infrastructure and a decline in the communities which depend on irrigation.” It is time for the Federal Government to provide a clear signal that they are serious about a future for irrigated agriculture in the Murray Darling Basin. We need to see the investment in irrigation efficiency and productivity measures which has been promised for so long but has been so slow in coming. The current policy settings are driving investment out of irrigated food production. Surely the alarm bells must be ringing for policy makers. CONTACT |
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