POLLING released Wednesday by the Canberra-based Australia Institute suggests government policy could be at odds with the wishes of ordinary Australians.
Respondents were asked to rank agriculture and water policy goals.
About 75 per cent ranked food production for consumption in Australia in their top three priorities.
More than 70pc said "ensuring small and family farms can compete with corporate agribusiness" was a top three priority.
And more than 60pc ranked the viability of regional communities as a top three priority.
Conversely only 26pc of people ranked "maximising gross domestic product from agriculture" as a top three priority and just 25pc ranked "maximising agriculture exports" in their top three.
"Australians would be mortified to realise the devastation the current water reforms are wreaking on the Murray Darling Basin's agricultural sector, family farms and communities," said the institute's senior water researcher Maryanne Slattery.
"We are seeing citrus growers in the Lower Darling pulling out their trees after picking for the last time.
"In the Murray Valley, fourth and fifth generation dairy farmers are walking off their farms in droves and those that remain will be lucky to survive another few months," she said.
"And Australia's rice industry is not far behind."
Ms Slattery said current Murray Darling Basin policies seemed to fly in the face of what Australians wanted.
"Australia's water policies are failing our regional communities, generational family farmers and threatening our food bowl."
The Australia Institute polled 1464 people about their views. Producing food for consumption in Australia was the highest priority for more Australians than any other, with 36pc. But three in four included it in their top three.
Maximising agriculture's contribution to GDP is a top three water policy priority for just one in four people surveyed and just 6pc listed as the top priority.
The sample was broken down by age, gender and voter intention. The institute listed the potential margin of error as 3pc.
Almost 35pc of Coalition voters listed producing food for consumption within Australia as their top priority, more than ALP or Greens supporters.
