The times are a-changin’?

RIVERLAND growers are increasingly turning to citrus, avocados and other horticultural crops as they search for a future beyond wine grapes, with Pike River producer Manvinder Singh saying he could no longer wait for the industry’s oversupply to recover.

Mr Singh is among a growing number of producers reshaping their businesses as the Riverland responds to prolonged challenges in the wine sector. Through the Transforming the Riverland initiative, growers are exploring alternative horticultural industries and investing in infrastructure aimed at opening new domestic and export market opportunities.

The Maan Park owner, whose orchard on the Pike River is named in memory of his late brother Maan Singh, said diversifying away from wine grapes was one of the biggest decisions he had made after decades in the industry.

“I wasn’t seeing a bright future in wine,” Mr Singh said.

“There’s an oversupply across the industry, and it could take many years to recover - I couldn’t wait that long.”

Instead, he looked towards crops he believed had stronger long-term demand.
“I could see people becoming more health conscious. They want to eat well, and that demand isn’t going away,” he said.

“A lot of growers around here are moving into citrus and almonds because of it - there’s real opportunity in the health market, and you can make so many different products from it.”

While citrus provided a relatively straightforward transition, avocados represented a longer-term investment.

“Citrus made the most sense to start with - it’s easier to manage than wine grapes, and the health market keeps growing, so the demand is there,” he said.

“Avocados were a tougher call. They’re harder to grow and slower to establish than citrus, but people love healthy food, and avocados are so good for you.”

“Farming isn’t only about money for me - it’s about giving people good, healthy fruit, and that’s what motivated me to keep pushing into avocados as well.”

Mr Singh said diversification offered opportunity, but it also required growers to accept significant financial risk while waiting years for new plantings to become productive.

“There’s a lot of expense, and not much income for a couple of years while the new crops establish - no income from the wine grapes anymore, and nothing yet from the new orchards either,” he said.

“The water prices are very high and running costs - especially diesel - have gone up so much. You need new equipment, and it’s expensive.”

“You plant a crop today and you’re waiting five years to see it come good, and in that time, anything can happen.”

Working through the Transforming the Riverland initiative with project officer Sanoop Varughese also gave Mr Singh the confidence to invest in value-adding infrastructure.

He developed on-farm grading and packing systems and built his own packing shed for about $50,000 — an investment he estimates would have cost more than $100,000 had contractors completed the work.

“I can now see the domestic and international market opportunities this transition could create, not only for my own business, but also for growers and the wider Riverland community,” he said.

“It is a significant investment, but I am optimistic and looking forward to the greater market opportunities it can help unlock.”

“It feels like we’re on the right track.”

Mr Singh believes more growers will continue investigating alternative crops as they look to build profitable businesses beyond traditional wine production and access higher-value domestic and export markets.

Despite his optimism, he said the current season remained one of the most difficult he had experienced.

“At the moment things are hard - honestly, in the last thirty years, this looks like the most difficult year I’ve had,” he said.

Family has also played a central role in helping him continue.

The farm carries the name of his younger brother, Maan Singh, who worked alongside him before his passing. Since then, Mr Singh has continued operating the property, supported by his family, with his son helping on weekends.

“After I started farming with my brother, I lost him, and I’ve been leading the farm alone since,” he said.

“My son comes out every weekend to help.”

“I’m always thinking about the work, moving things forward, because he was always my support, and I want to keep farming in his memory.”

Although he now works every day of the week, Mr Singh said he still felt his brother’s presence on the farm.

“It feels like my brother is still here with me on the farm.”

For other growers considering diversification, Mr Singh said success required realistic expectations, patience and a willingness to invest for the future.

“Things are hard right now, and I won’t pretend otherwise,” he said.

“But I believe in hard work, and in moving forward.”

“Projects like Transforming the Riverland are creating opportunities for growers in this region. I believe they’re connecting us to better markets and better prices.”