Within the next decade, Australia could be growing rice with 30 per cent less water if an alternative wet-dry farming system is adopted.

The rice is sown using no-till technology.

Early in the season, the crop is irrigated intermittently to keep the moisture sufficient for growth but not for evaporation.

Moulamein farmer and Nuffield Scholarship recipient Leigh Vial says a suitable rice variety is now needed so the technique can be widely adopted.