Where is rice grown in Australia?
Most of Australia's rice is grown in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, around towns such as Leeton, Griffith and Deniliquin. The crop relies on irrigation water from the Murrumbidgee and Murray rivers.
The first commercial rice crop in the region was harvested in the 1920s, after Japanese-born farmer Jo Takasuka and others had experimented with growing rice in Australia. The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area proved well suited to the crop.
Australian growers mainly produce medium grain rice, used in dishes such as risotto, sushi and paella, along with some short and long grain varieties. Yields per hectare are among the highest in the world.
SunRice
Rice in the Riverina is processed and marketed largely by SunRice, a grower-owned company based in Leeton. Its products are sold in Australia and exported to many countries, especially in the Middle East and the Pacific.
Rice production depends heavily on water availability. During droughts, such as the Millennium Drought and in 2019, the rice crop shrank dramatically because farmers received little or no irrigation water.
Rice farmers have greatly reduced water use per tonne of rice through improved varieties and practices. Smaller amounts of rice are also grown in northern Queensland.
Did You Know?
Leeton holds a SunRice Festival that celebrates the local rice industry.