Dr Uddin made the move to Trangie in October bringing his research expertise to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Water and Irrigation Unit in Northern NSW.

In his new post at Trangie Dr Uddin is working with farmers to increase the production and profit generated by water in agriculture, particularly in the irrigation sector. 

As part of a national collaborative project with the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Dr Uddin is currently tracking improvements in water productivity that have occurred in the cotton industry over recent decades.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

- Orana Mid-Western Police appeal for information after a string of fuel thefts

- Police have arrested six people after a brawl broke out at the Narromine courthouse

- Tomingley Town Hall opened after receiving major upgrades

He will be liaising with cotton growers in the Lachlan and Macquarie Valleys to gather and analyse bench-marking data on water use and production.

“Our team is engaging directly with growers to collect and analyse detailed data relating to water productivity,” Dr Uddin said.

“This benchmarking has enabled the industry to track significant improvements in water productivity over the past two decades.”

Dr Uddin is also working with the DPI’s Sustaining the Basin Irrigated Farm Modernisation program to help irrigators who have installed new infrastructure achieve industry benchmark results for water use efficiency.

“I’ve been collating the information to work out how much their water productivity has improved after implementing new infrastructure such as automated technology, overhead irrigation, and bankless channel systems,” Dr Uddin said. 

Dr Uddin uses desktop analysis to quantify improvements in water productivity, and feeds recommendations back to growers and the DPI about how to make the most of farm modernisation.  

“Trangie is a very good small town. The community here is very good and cooperative,” Dr Uddin said. 

“I am keen to work with the growers in this region and support them to increase water use efficiency and water productivity and to boost farm production and profitability.”

Dr Uddin is encouraging any local farmers who would like to get involved in the research on water productivity bench-marking and irrigated farm modernisation to contact him on 0448 180 996.

Trangie Agricultural Research Centre is the largest station operated by NSW DPI and it is the only agricultural research centre in the Macquarie valley. 

Over the last twelve months the DPI’s Water and Irrigation Unit has appointed five new research and development officers in Northern NSW to support the profitable and sustainable use of water in agriculture.