55,000 acres of new farmland to open at MMA/ADA scheme – Agri minster

…urges farmers to apply early

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday urged farmers within the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) scheme to begin applying for lands early, announcing that some 55,000 acres of new farmland will soon become available upon the completion of ongoing canal works.

Speaking during an outreach with farmers at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, on Saturday, Mustapha said the expansion is part of the Government’s wider plan to increase agricultural production, improve drainage and irrigation, and regularise longstanding land issues within the scheme.

“What we are doing, we are trying as a government to bring more land, one, to develop these lands, because you will see a lot of farm-to-market roads we are looking to build. We are doing lots of canals, the high-level canals, at least two high-level canals we will have here in Region Five. That will minimise flooding tremendously,” the minister told farmers.

He said the MMA/ADA scheme already has approximately 106,000 acres available for rice cultivation, another 40,000 acres designated for cash crop production and close to 50,000 acres for livestock farming.

According to Mustapha, an additional 55,000 acres will become available when the ongoing Hope-like canal project linking Mahaica and Ithaca is completed. “With the Hope-like canal that we are doing now, from Mahaica to Ithaca, a new 55,000 acres of land will become available to farmers in this scheme here,” he said.

The minister encouraged persons currently seeking agricultural lands to begin the application process immediately.

“Those persons who are renting land, those persons who said that they don’t have land, start the process,” Mustapha urged.

“I’m informing you in advance that at the completion of the high-level canals, you will have 55,000 acres of land being made available to farmers. Start the application. Start the process. Or else when the time comes, and people apply for it and get it, you will be left behind.”

Mustapha said the government is also working to address longstanding land disputes and leasing issues within the MMA/ADA scheme, including cases where persons sublet lands at high prices to smaller farmers.

He disclosed that a committee involving the Attorney General’s Chambers and other officials has already been established to examine conflicts relating to leases, land ownership and occupation within the scheme.

“We are working to ensure that we bring some semblance of the issue to resolve it here,” he said, while noting that some disputes remain before the courts and therefore cannot be addressed administratively.

The minister also pointed to ongoing investments in drainage and irrigation infrastructure across the scheme, including high-level canals, additional pumps and farm-to-market roads.

He said the projects are intended to reduce flooding, open new lands for cultivation and support diversification within the agriculture sector as the government moves to expand food production and strengthen Guyana’s role in r