A LOCAL irrigation firm is again making waves across the globe as India’s Honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurated one of the world’s largest canal irrigation modernisation projects, implemented by Shepparton’s Rubicon Water.
Millions around the nation watched as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai, introduced the NLBC Automation project last month.
“For the first time, farmers across the entire 400,000ha area are receiving irrigation supplies through the automated canal system, with equitable distribution and better water management,” explained Mr Bommai.
“Modernisation of the system has already increased network efficiency by 20 percent and further projects will be taken up.”
The improved water service to farmers will support the possibility of growing multiple crops per year and increase yields.
Prime Minister Modi emphasised how water security is integral to the securing the nation’s agricultural future.
“Like national security, border security, coastal security, and internal security, India needs to end the challenges of water security for the development of India in the 21st century.”
Back in Australia, the Rubicon Water team was also celebrating the occasion. The advanced automation technology was developed in Australia by Rubicon Water and research partner, the University of Melbourne.
“This is an incredible milestone for Rubicon Water. For a company to develop its technology here in Australia and deploy it into one of the world’s largest single irrigation automation projects in India and opened by Prime Minister Modi brings great pride,” said Rubicon Water CEO, Bruce Rodgerson.
Rubicon’s technology is currently responsible for automating the delivery of water to approximately 6,000kms of canals in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin and globally the company has installed more than 35,000 automated gates that have been installed in 17 countries. The majority of this technology has been manufactured at Rubicon’s primary facility in Shepparton, Victoria.
