By Abbas Nazil
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have signed a €5 million agreement to fund Phase II of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme.
The deal, signed in Abuja, reinforces AfDB’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and food security across Africa by equipping smallholder farmers with innovative farming technologies.
Dr. Abdul Kamara, AfDB’s Director-General for Nigeria, highlighted the programme’s regional approach in deploying agricultural technologies, particularly climate-resilient innovations aimed at combating pests, diseases, and other threats to food production.
The TAAT initiative aligns with the AfDB’s broader Feed Africa Strategy, which seeks to double crop, livestock, and fish production by improving farmers’ access to modern agricultural inputs.
Kamara emphasized that achieving large-scale agricultural transformation requires addressing multiple challenges beyond just technology deployment.
These include inefficiencies in agricultural supply chains, seed and fertilizer policies, regulatory barriers, and gaps in extension services.
He noted that AfDB would continue leveraging strategic partnerships, including those with the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), to drive progress.
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The €5 million grant for TAAT Phase II is financed through the Donor Contributions Window of the Transition Support Facility, with generous funding from the German government.
Kamara expressed gratitude for Germany’s support, stating that the additional financing would enable the programme to expand agricultural innovations, strengthen food security, and improve climate resilience across Africa.
TAAT Phase II builds on the success of its first phase, which was initially funded with $40 million.
The new phase has already received $27 million, with IITA serving as the lead implementer in collaboration with CGIAR Centres and National Agricultural Research Institutions across multiple African countries.
Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director-General of IITA and CGIAR described the agreement as a significant step forward in the collective effort to transform African agriculture.
He commended AfDB’s dedication to agricultural development, stating that TAAT had already demonstrated its effectiveness in boosting productivity, enhancing farmers’ livelihoods, and strengthening food systems across the continent.
The programme aims to increase agricultural output by providing smallholder farmers with access to high-yield seeds, modern irrigation systems, and improved farming techniques.
By scaling up these innovations, TAAT is expected to play a crucial role in helping African countries achieve food self-sufficiency and enhance climate resilience in the face of growing agricultural challenges.
