Some 113 farmers in Region Five who waited years for legal rights to the land they till received agricultural leases on Wednesday, a step towards resolving a decades-old dispute.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha distributed the leases to farmers from Rampoor and surrounding communities at the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority's (MMA-ADA) Open Day at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice. The leases give recipients greater security of tenure and the opportunity to develop their agricultural activities.

Mustapha said the Government had worked with farmers to resolve issues in several areas, although some matters remain outstanding.

"So we got some leases here to give out this afternoon. Now I want to be very, very firm up front. We're giving leases to individuals. We had issues with a number of areas. We work with the farmers to resolve those issues. But there are still some pending matters we have to look at," he said.

For many recipients, the leases end a long wait. Zahiruddeen Rahman, 44, of Shieldstown, Berbice, said the lease would allow him to develop his own land after years of farming on a Government reserve.

"Well, I feel so happy receiving this lease because I've been very long. I want to thank the Minister of Agriculture and Mr Ramjit for doing a good work. He stands from his word, his promise. And I want to thank them very much. This will help me a lot because I am a farmer, a cash crop farmer and also a rice farmer. And I was planting the government reserve for a number of years. And having my own land now, it will assist me a lot, you know, for developing my own personal land right now," he said.

Rahman said his plans would depend on the type of land allocated to him, but he intends to continue with either rice or cash-crop farming.

Naseem Ibrahim, 70, shared his sense of relief, saying she was proud and glad after waiting so long.

"I feel so proud, me glad cause I wait very long, and me happy that me receive it. Well what i will plant? I go plant balanjay, calalu alot of things I'll plant on my farm, plant and sell make little money for my old age," she said.

Ibrahim thanked the Government, through the Agriculture Ministry, for fulfilling its promise to farmers.

Others had waited even longer. Mohamed Hassan, 51, said farmers had been waiting 14 years for the documents and described receiving his lease as a dream come true.
"This lease has been with you for a very long time. It was actually the government who gave us this because it's been 14 years we've been waiting for it. I must commend the government through the Ministry of Agriculture for giving us this lease today. It's basically a dream come true for us. I plan to do cash crop on my land, on the six-acre land they gave us," he said.

Hassan said he intends to grow cash crops, including plantains and bananas, and expand gradually. Those crops, he said, would allow him to manage the farm alongside his other responsibilities, and he may seek a loan in future to develop the land further.

With their tenure now secured, recipients are expected to invest in their farms, expand cultivation and work to improve their livelihoods.