The Coordinator of Fadama III Project Coordination office in Plateau State Mr Gideon Dandam, said last Thursday that the World Bank-assisted project in the state had come to stay.

Dandam told  newsmen  in Jos that the project could end administratively on December 31 although the programmes that would sustain the project for another period had been put in place.

The coordinator said because of the impact of the project on the lives of farmers in the state, both the project officials and the farmers came together to develop the programmes that would sustain the project.

“Our farmers have adopted a policy of sustainability. And they have now begun a process of establishing a microfinance bank.

“Presently we have got the approval of CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) for a name which is now Fadama Farmers Microfinance Bank. Number two, they have also gone ahead to pool this money together in one account, preparatory to the take-off of the bank, which will now be medium where they will use to obtain small loan with one digit interest”, he said

According to Dandam, the farmers who had been saving five per cent of their annual interests were able to raise N58 million for the microfinance bank.

He said the bank would service all small farmers in the state without interference from the Fadama office.

Besides the sustainability programmes, Dandam said that the Federal Government secured funding that would enable it to continue to assist farmers in furtherance of the project.

“The programme will eventually come to a close on December 31, because it was meant for five years.