Quinoa crops continue to take off in Australia
The growing of quinoa crops continues to expand in the most northern area of Western Australia, with a record number of farmers growing the crop as part of Western Australia’s Ord Irrigation Scheme.
According to ABC Rural, farmers have been able to start growing quinoa in the area with help from research performed by the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food testing its growing abilities.
The Ord Irrigation Scheme was established in 1959 to help develop quality farming land in Western Australia.
With a series of dams built to help channel water from the Ord River, state and federal government funding still helps fund the scheme.
The popularity of the crop in WA comes after a three year quinoa growing trial was launched in Australia in July 2015. The project is funded by Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, is co-funded and led by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, with contributions from participating states.