Not a Drop

With the driest conditions east of the Sahara, irrigators along the Murray Darling Basin face a bleak future. If there is no substantial rain in the next two months, their allocations to water their crops will be cut to zero. Generations of farmers face potential ruin as certain crops such as vines and citrus may have to be sacrificed. These take years to regenerate. The area irrigated by this huge river system provides up to 40 percent of Australias crops and food prices are certain to rise. The water from the river is being reserved for humans who live along the river course until it rains in substantial quantities.

Adelaide depends on the river for almost all of the water supply. Level 5 water restrictions are almost certain to be enacted shortly. Still no serious proposals for alternative sources of water such as desalination.

Hello? It may not rain substantially for years.

The cartoon by Leunig made me laugh, because the last time we had substantial rain was when we had our two ducks and their was enough water to clean up after them. It would be much more challenging now. They now live in a farm in Gawler. I wonder if it is raining there?

In the interim, we will just have to do our rain dances without them. C'mon rain. Where are you????