More than 12,000 farmers have indicated interest to participate in the National Fadama 111 programme in Zamfara State.

Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, the coordinator of the programme in the state, who disclosed this to newsmen in Gusau said that the farmers were selected through 607 registered Fadama users groups, adding that more farmers would be accommodated before the commencement of the programme next month.

He said that all members of the group that registered for participation met the conditions set by the federal government and World Bank.

Shinkafi said that Fadama III was aimed at accelerating food production through irrigation farming.

According to the coordinator, the successful implementation of the programme would contribute to the development of the economy of the state and the empowerment of small scale farmers in the rural areas.

He said crops like wheat, rice, maize, tomato, pepper, garlic, cabbage and garden egg would be grown in more than 2,000 hectares across the state.

He said that field-staff, who would guide and assist the farmers engaged in the programme had already been recruited.

Shinkafi said that the state government and its 14 local government councils had completed payment of their counterpart funding for the programme, amounting to N56.3 million and N28 million respectively.

He said that vulnerable groups like women and the physically challenged were being encouraged to participate in Fadama III in order to reduce the level of poverty among them.