Water Sales Trump Crop Sales in Queensland

BRISBANE, Australia — Small farmers in Queensland can make more by selling their water than growing crops, reports Adelaide Now. “Water is genuinely becoming liquid gold and an increasing number of farmers are being lured away from the land,” attorney Tracey Moore told the newspaper.

“In regions where water trading is possible, there is a temptation for farmers to sell their entitlements to larger operations or even to resource companies who are looking to acquire water for their mining operations,” Moore continued.

While it is not legal to sell water in all districts, water scarcity is affecting both the choice to farm and the types of crops preferred. Shifting from water-intensive crops to low-impact types may soon impact the quantity, quality, and price of produce available to the average Australian consumer.

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Source : Adelaide Now