FARMERS who owe the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary-Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA) large sums of money have recently begun paying up their debts which, a few weeks ago, stood in excess of $700M.

According to MMA/ADA General Manager Aubrey Charles, the amount which is owed for drainage and irrigation and land rental charges, is slowly reducing and it now stands in excess of $670M.

However, with several agriculture areas in a deplorable state due to the rainy season, the MMA/ADA is calling on the rest of farmers to visit their office and pay up in a timely manner. “Within the past four to five months, farmers have been paying up. I compliment them for that but they still owe a large amount…so once the money comes in we’ll be able to do more for the farmers, we’ll be able to meet our obligation and that is providing an effective drainage and irrigation service to our farmers,” he said.

Charles added that the Agriculture Development Authority understands the unpredictable challenges that farmers may face, and is willing to work out payment plans that best suit each farmer.
“I would like to appeal to those farmers to come forward and pay. We don’t expect farmers who owe three or four hundred thousand dollars to pay all at one time, but they can visit the office and work out a payment plan…they can always come and reach me or the supervisor for that division and we could work together,” he said.

For maintenance services and other capital-related works, the MMA/ADA must rely on rates paid by farmers as the government is no longer responsible for funding of capital works undertaken by the agency.
The body is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and is responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of all drainage and irrigation works in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice).

It supports nearly half of the national rice production, about 30-35 per cent of all livestock, mostly cattle production, and 10-15 per cent of the national sugar production. In addition, Charles says that works which commenced on the construction of a new $400M sluice at D’ Edward Village, West Bank Berbice, are progressing and the completion of the 4-door sluice is earmarked for the new year.

It is being undertaken by the Courtney Benn Contracting Company Ltd. and will serve as the main drainage sluice in the Abary, Berbice area, in helping to improve the drainage system in the region.