MINISTER of Agriculture Noel Holder has disclosed that government will make more lands available within the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Authority (MMA/ADA) to facilitate the expansion of both rice cultivation and cattle rearing. He made the disclosure yesterday while addressing a large assembly of farmers and their respective families at the annual Open Day and Mini-Exhibition of the MMA/ADA at Onverwagt, West

Coast Berbice.
The apportioning of land can be seen as a reward of sorts for Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice) consistently being a major producer of rice and cash-crops, and having one of the largest acreages under rice cultivation.
A case in point is that for this year’s second crop, 41,705.9 hectares, the equivalent of 103,013 acres, have been dedicated to rice, while the region alone accounts for the harvest of a whopping 84,908 acres of paddy.
As the minister observed, “To ensure that this vibrancy continues, a decision has been taken by government to make available additional lands within the MMA/ADA, not only for rice production, but also cattle rearing.”
During the course of the day’s proceedings, the names of several farmers who were just this week awarded a 50-year lease each on State lands in Region 5, were announced by MMA/ADA General Manager Aubrey Charles.
The leases are to be handed over to the farmers before the week is over. As Minister Holder told the gathering, the MMA/ADA scheme supports the cultivation of nearly half the rice grown in Guyana; about 30-35 per cent of all the livestock (mostly cattle) reared here; and some 10-15 per cent of the sugar produced nationally.
Having said that, he disclosed that many projects are in the pipeline to improve the drainage and irrigation situation in the flood-prone MMA/ADA areas, as government works assiduously to enhance the services provided to farmers.
“I am aware of the increased demand for land, and my ministry will be working to ensure that not only more lands are made available, but that farmers are legitimate title holders,” Minister Holder said.