– 113 farmers receive agricultural land leases following years of uncertainty
Agriculture Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, has brought closure to a decades-old land dispute involving farmers from Rampoor and surrounding communities in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), with 113 farmers receiving agricultural land leases during the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority’s (MMA-ADA) Open Day at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, earlier today.
The distribution marks a significant breakthrough for farmers who have spent decades seeking security of tenure and formal recognition of their right to occupy and cultivate agricultural lands. The longstanding issue had created uncertainty over land occupancy and agricultural activities, resulting in disputes between cattle farmers and those involved in rice and cash crop cultivation.
Speaking at the event, Minister Mustapha said the matter had remained unresolved for far too long, despite repeated concerns raised by farmers over the years. He explained that bringing closure to the issue required sustained engagement with the affected groups, careful consideration of their concerns and a commitment to finding a practical solution that would allow agricultural activities to continue without further conflict.
The dispute dates back several decades, with farmers raising concerns over competing claims to agricultural lands, the allocation of leases and the use of lands for livestock grazing and crop cultivation.
In 2019, the matter attracted national attention after a group of cattle farmers from the Rampoor area approached the High Court, challenging efforts to remove them from approximately 1,360 acres of land they claimed to have occupied and developed for more than two decades. The farmers maintained that despite making repeated applications to regularise their occupancy, they had been unable to secure formal leases.
In July 2021, Minister Mustapha, along with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Anil Nandlall, S.C., intervened in the matter, meeting with farmers from Rampoor and Shieldstown at the MMA-ADA office in Region Five.
During those engagements, the ministers proposed a compromise involving the surveying, division and zoning of the disputed lands to accommodate both livestock and crop production. Minister Mustapha subsequently instructed the MMA-ADA to undertake the necessary surveys to facilitate the allocation of lands and the eventual issuance of leases.
During today’s activity, Minister Mustapha also underscored the importance of the MMA-ADA to agricultural production and the livelihoods of thousands of families across Region Five, describing the scheme as one of Guyana’s most important agricultural assets.
“The MMA-ADA has long been recognised as one of the most important agricultural drainage and irrigation systems in Guyana. It is the heartbeat of agricultural production in Region Five, supporting thousands of farming families and contributing significantly to our national food basket. When agriculture succeeds in the MMA, families prosper, communities grow, and Guyana becomes stronger,” Minister Mustapha stated.
He explained that the MMA scheme plays a critical role in supporting rice cultivation, livestock rearing and other agricultural activities, making its continued development and effective management essential to the Government’s broader food security and agricultural diversification agenda.
Minister Mustapha noted that the Government continues to invest in improving drainage and irrigation infrastructure, strengthening agricultural services and addressing operational challenges within the scheme to ensure that farmers can maximise production and improve their livelihoods.
The Minister also encouraged the lease recipients to make productive use of their lands, reminding them that the leases contain a clause strictly prohibiting subletting. He explained that the practice of subletting agricultural lands continues to drive up production costs for many farmers across the country.
Minister Mustapha stressed that the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Ministry of Legal Affairs, will be taking steps to address this issue and ensure that the provisions of agricultural land leases are strictly enforced.
