Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder yesterday said that the increase in land rates is necessary to avoid the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agriculture Development Authority (MMA-ADA) from “becoming another GuySuCo”.
Hundreds of farmers protested against the hikes on Tuesday while the MMA remained silent.
A press release from the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday described the protest by cash crop, rice and cattle farmers as “unfortunate”.
The Ministry argued that “For the past 18 years farmers were required to pay $2,500 per acre annually despite the increasing cost of material and supplies in the provision of D&I [Drainage and Irrigation] services by the MMA/ADA”.
