FARMERS of Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice) have once again raised concerns over the increase in fees for drainage and irrigation and land.

In an effort to have their grievances heard, the men, armed with placards, gathered outside the Ministry of the Presidency and the Ministry of Agriculture on Vlissengen Road.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, said that farmers are still unhappy with the government’s decision to increase the fees for drainage and irrigation from $2,500 to $8,000 and for land rental from $1,000 to $7,000.

“This increase, Seeraj said, “is coming at a time when farmers are getting less for their produce, and the increases cannot be accepted…

“Since the increase was passed by the government, farmers have been protesting; and they intend to do so until the decision is revoked.”

He said that all farmers are asking is for the decision to be revoked, and for the government to engage in consultations with them before applying another increase to the rentals.

Seeraj said he has even tabled a motion in the National Assembly in the hope of engaging fellow parliamentarians on the matter.

According to a Guyana Chronicle report, the rates for land rent and drainage and irrigation have not been increased for 18 years.

And according to Minister of Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder, in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA): “There has been no attempt to keep the rates of land rent and the cost of drainage and irrigation, or the pay for the cost of drainage and irrigation, in line with inflation.

“The result of that is that where the MMA used to be a source of income to the government, it is now taking money out of the government to survive; $237M out of the budget for this year.

“We have to look at raising rates to the proper levels.”

GINA further quoted Minister Holder as saying that the rates being paid by rice farmers for the services provided by the agricultural scheme are archaic, and that they ought to be adjusted upwards if the scheme is to be expanded.