By Clifford Stanley

FARMERS in Region Five can expect a significant increase in the availability of agricultural lands to facilitate the expansion of rice cultivation and cattle rearing under legitimate titles this year.Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), Dr Ken Sealey said this has always been a priority activity since the new Board came on stream, but their work had been slowed considerably by a tremendous backlog of applications which had been allowed to accumulate under the previous administration.

In a recent comment on the issue, Sealey lamented stated, numerous leases were signed by the General Manager but were never signed by the then Minister of Agriculture. That kind of situation we had to deal with. Scores of applications had to be taken through the entire process again”.

He added:  “This Board is aware of the increasing demand for land for agricultural activity in Region 5 and our aim is to make lands available to legitimate applicants so they can expand their production and productivity towards a good life.”

He disclosed that agricultural lands have been identified for distribution in all three of the geographical sub-divisions of the region, namely lands between the Berbice and Abary Rivers, the Abary and Mahaicony Rivers and the Mahaicony and Mahaica Rivers.

“We distributed several leases to farmers to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations and the momentum will continue.”

He said emphasis at the moment is on clearing the huge backlog to the extent that several more 50 year leases are to be handed over to farmers within a month.
MMA/ADA General Manager, Aubrey Charles said the scheme was working assiduously to provide leases to residents between the Mahaica and Mahaicony rivers beginning by year-end and continuing.

“We had meetings at Belmont and Perseverance villages and the surveys to demarcate the boundaries of the land have been completed. Unfortunately, we did not get to finalise the leases. However, I average that within a few weeks farmers in Belmont and Perseverance will receive their 50-year leases. That will be a good start for this area since the process will be continuous for the benefit of the neighbouring villagers,” he said.

According to Sealey, it is generally known that Region Five has one of the largest acreages of rice under cultivation.

The region also supports 30-35 per cent of all livestock (mostly cattle) production and 10-15 per cent of national sugar production.

“The work of farmers be it cash crop or rice, continues to be a significant contributor to the country’s economy and without the allocation of lands, there can be no production,” Sealey said.

He stressed that the thrust by the current Board of Directors and management will facilitate the rapid expansion of agricultural production and productivity
within the region for the benefit of its farmers and the country as a whole.