THE Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA recorded a 15% increase in revenues from land rental and drainage and irrigation charges from November 2018 to October 2019 as against the same period last year, General Manager Aubrey Charles recently disclosed.

During remarks at the recent Open Day in celebration of Agriculture Month 2019, Charles praised many  farmers whom he said came forward and assisted the MMA/ADA in the preparation and maintenance of access dams for both the first and second rice  crops of 2019.

He disclosed that revenue collected for the period  November 2017 to  October 2018 amounted to $233.7M and for the  period November 2018 to October 2019, it totalled $267M which was 50% of the budgeted target
He said: “I mention these figures  because even though farmers don’t pay the MMA the charges required,  many times  you would see persons getting on national television and criticizing the  MMA  about the poor  state of the roads or clogged up trenches,  so I have to say  that if farmers were to pay  $400M  and they only pay $200M, we can only do 50% of the work.”

He stressed that the MMA does not receive money from Central Government to do maintenance.

He  reiterated: “ Farmers are benefiting from a service and they must pay for that service.”
He added the oft stated appeal to the delinquent farmers to honor their obligations, saying that the MMA would be flexible in its  approach to them clearing their indebtedness.

On October 29th last, the MMA summoned  over 50 rice farmers to  face the Rice Assessment Committee presiding at the  Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court  in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) for chronic non-payment  of land rents and drainage and irrigation charges. The matters were adjourned to the 12th November 2019, on which date the Chairman of the Rice Assessment Committee will rule on submissions made by lawyer for the farmers, former Attorney General Mr Anil Nandlall. (END)