Versus the grain: Northern Rivers rice growers state market ‘monopoly’ blocking development

Northern Rivers rice growers who lost half their crops in the current floods state they have actually been dealt another blow.

The New South Wales federal government revealed the single rice marketing desk would be extended for 5 years, obstructing northern NSW growers from accessing export markets.

The choice follows a five-yearly evaluation into rice vesting plans by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

The choice has actually been invited by Riverina rice growers, who produce 98 percent of Australia’s rice crop and mainly supply to SunRice, which holds the nation’s sole export licence with the Rice Marketing Board.

But, Steven Rogers from the Northern Rivers’ Natural Rice Company stated he was stunned and dissatisfied that the present vesting plans would be kept.

” The rice market in Australia is simply a monopoly and anybody else attempting to enter that market simply tends to get pressed back a lot that they no longer exist,” Mr Rogers stated.

Unlike rice grown in the Riverina, northern NSW rice is grown without watering, with crops relying exclusively on summer season rain.

Mr Rogers stated this provided a point of distinction that importers were extremely thinking about.

” The world is trying to find our type of rice … that low-emissions, low-water-usage rice, for their sustainability.

He approximated that half the area’s crops had actually been lost in the record floods 7 weeks earlier.

Single desk uses the scale to complete in a worldwide market

The NSW DPI evaluation discovered there was “no definitive proof” that vesting, through the constraint of export competitors, was providing greater costs for NSW rice exports.

It included that the existing unique export licence holder, SunRice, was anticipated to delight in continuous assistance from most of its growers, a number of whom own a monetary and controlling stake in the business.

NSW Agricultural Minister Dugald Saunders stated the choice to keep a single rice marketing desk offered certainty to the majority of growers.

” The feedback I got really totally from growers was that they like the vesting plans as they are,” Mr Saunders stated.

He stated that through the Rice Marketing Board and their arrangement with SunRice, there was just one point of contact for purchasers and sellers of Australian rice.

” If you divided that up and have various gamers in the field, what it does is potentially damage your capability to get the very best rate overseas.

However, he acknowledged that modifications might be made to enhance chances for other rice-growing areas, revealing an independent report into a few of the concerns raised by the NSW DPI evaluation.

” Part of the concept of doing an evaluation is to take a look at what will work for both southern and northern growers, to ensure there is a future for both celebrations.

Bumper harvest in the Riverina

Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia president Rob Massina, from Finley in the Riverina, stated they invited the independent report.

” That’s about adjusting to alter and acknowledging what’s needed for the rice market in the future,” Mr Massina stated.

Mr Massina stated rice markets throughout the world were greatly managed by federal governments worldwide.

” Gaining scale from an Australian rice market to go and complete in various markets and at various times, can provide fantastic worth to the rice grower.”

Unlike the flood-damaged Northern Rivers, the Riverina is presently experiencing a bumper rice harvest, with the overall tonnage provided forecasted to be near 700,000 tonnes.

Mr Massina stated that was more than 10 times what was produced in current seasons that were spoiled by dry spell and low water accessibility.