Announcements on South Australia irrigation projects are expected very soon, as large water-users wait with baited breath.

The successful applicants for SA River Murray Sustainability Irrigation Industry Improvement Program known as SARMS 3IP, will be unveiled soon, according to reports.

The $260 million fund is designed to return permanent water licenses to the Commonwealth, by helping farmers set up water-saving crops or reduce their water use through new infrastructure.

Producers have put up proposals to plant almonds and improve thier packing and cold storage facilities.

Primary Industries and Regions South Australia agribusiness initiatives manager Ben Fee has told the ABC that the announcement of the successful round two applicants is coming.

“We've been inundated, it's a very attractive package,” he said.

“Through round one, just over 270 expressions of interest came through and we ended up funding 109 of those projects.

“That was about $105 million worth of investment and we have received about 20 gigalitres of water through that round one. For round two we've seen even higher demand come through.

“We haven't yet decided whether there will be a round three and what form it will take, we do hope to have a round three.

“There are thousands of irrigators along the river. Our program didn't ever intend to get to all of them it was looking for water returns and bang for buck in terms of productivity so there are some people who did miss out on this opportunity.”