About Us

The RGA is the collective voice of rice growers in Australia

The Ricegrowers' Association of Australia (RGA) represents more than 1,000 voluntary members, and supports growers on issues affecting the viability of their business and communities. Rice production is one of the most important agricultural activities on the planet – more than half the people in the world eat rice at least once a day. In Australia we can produce enough rice annually to feed more than 20 million people, 365 days a year.

Uniting Australian rice growers: 1930 – 1950

 

The 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.

The RGA today

The RGA provides a strong, united voice for the rice industry, which now includes growers in the Murrumbidgee and New South Wales Murray valleys. We represent the interests of rice growers, and provide services to members, to ensure they can provide a legacy for their children, create employment in their districts and grow quality rice.

With rice still the mainstay of many Riverina towns today, it is important that the RGA members have strong and effective representation in its three key policy areas of Water, Environmental Sustainability and Productivity and Industry Affairs. 

 

In 2020 the RGA celebrates 90 years of existence, to view our constitution, click here