Govt to review MMA land leases as Agri Minister raises alarm over widespread subletting

…says nearly 60% of landholders sublet agricultural lands, driving up production costs

The Government is moving to review agricultural land leases issued under the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), after Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha revealed that nearly 60 per cent of landholders are subletting their land, despite lease conditions prohibiting the practice.

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According to Mustapha, the widespread subletting is contributing significantly to the cost of rice production, with farmers paying between $20,000 and $30,000 to rent agricultural lands from leaseholders, even though the Government has reduced official land rental and drainage and irrigation charges.