With the cotton industry booming in the Southern Valleys, there are still some naysayers who claim cotton crops waste water and believe farmers are “in it for themselves”.  

A debate has been raging on The Irrigator’s Facebook page about the growth of cotton crops in the region and while most back the local growers, some have questioned the sustainability of cotton. 

Rhonda Male was one of those wondering if the growers were benefiting at the expense of the environment. 

“(I) drove from Leeton to Griffith recently and was surprised and shocked to see paddocks of cotton planted,” she wrote. I was gobsmacked as I hear and read stories about our precious vineyards and fruit trees being pulled out in some cases due to lack of water.

“Seems wrong to plant cotton in our area and really in our country, our rivers are drying up, our towns are suffering because of the lack of water and yet this allowed to go ahead. If there are any benefits to anyone apart from the owners pocket please let me know.”

Cotton grower Trent Gardiner labelled comments such as these as “rubbish”. 

He has even offered anyone wanting to get to know more about the crop to pay a visit to his farm, where he also grows rice and wheat among other things. 

“Basically a farmer can choose what he wants to plant – it’s up to him and no one else,” Mr Gardiner said. 

“Genetically modified cotton, which we grow, is fantastic. You don’t have to do the amount of spraying you normally would. Cotton also uses less water than rice for example. 

“Growers in our region have always been the most sustainable and practical with their water. The needs of the river are always taken care of before a farmer is given his allocation.”

Mr Gardiner argued without farmers, the MIA would die. 

Crops such as cotton provide a flow on affect for other businesses in the area, including machinery and freight companies to name two. 

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In the case of cotton, it isn’t just used for clothing, residents are consumers of cotton through ways they don’t even know about. 

This includes oil, soap and other products. 

“There are no conspiracies or smoke and mirrors, just good communities getting on with it by keeping up with the most efficient ways to grow food and fibre,” Mr Gardiner said. 

“In regards to growers who have pulled out their vineyards, that was their choice, particularly at a time when they weren’t getting much return for their grapes. 

“Cotton has been a good option and it’s not doing any harm to the environment. I think people just need to look into it a bit more.”

With cotton needing hot conditions to grow, the MIA remains a perfect place to do so.