The drive towards even more efficient irrigation water use and world’s best metering standards will be enhanced by an memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed by Australia’s two leading irrigation industry bodies Irrigation Australia (IAL) and the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC).
Australia’s irrigation sector is world leading when it comes to using the least possible water to produce the highest possible output.
Developments in water use efficiency and crop research mean that Australian irrigators now produce far more food and fibre per litre of water applied than they ever have before.
NIC’s irrigator members have spent 20 years making major investments in efficiency and water use measurement, on and off farm.
Greater cooperation between the two peak bodies is a logical step as the drive toward efficiency and accountability continues, with the MOU aiming to enhance and develop an industry that produces Australia’s fruit and vegetables; most wine; and all of the rice, cotton and almonds.
The memorandum allows both organisations to leverage their specialist skills as a way of strengthening representation of the irrigation sector at a political level and of contributing to the continuing development of standards and professional skills.
CEO of Irrigation Australia, Bryan Ward ,said that the memorandum is a significant development for the association, which represents the value chain of urban and rural irrigation, from water users and the rural water supply sector through to retailers, manufacturers and government agencies.
“The memorandum of understanding, which gives us observer members status on the NIC, provides a number of benefits, including being able to participate in policy formulation and to access advice and assistance with lobbying for the industry at a federal level.
“This is a significant step that gives our membership access to services that Irrigation Australia haven’t previously enjoyed.”
NIC CEO, Steve Whan, said, “The NIC is focused on the interests of our membership, which represents a significant proportion of Irrigation Infrastructure Operators, local irrigator organisations and commodity peak bodies.
“Agreeing to cooperate on areas of mutual interest will strengthen representation of irrigation at a national level, and benefit the membership of both the Irrigation Australia and the NIC,” Mr Whan said.
A key benefit for NIC members will be access to Irrigation Australia’s expertise in providing training and certification as well as to its significant members-only information resources.