By Abdullahi Lukman
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved an additional $16 million to commence Phase III of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme reinforcing its drive to boost productivity and climate resilience across Africa.
The Bank’s Board of Directors which cleared the funding cited urgent need to tackle low agricultural productivity, limited access to modern technologies and climate-resilient practices, as well as disruptions to global supply chains caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The remarkable grant agreement was signed with the programme executing agency, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on February 18, 2026 to exceed the 25 million farmers already covered by the first two phases.
The Bank said TAAT’s first two phases helped mobilise $3.18 billion in agricultural investments, including $857.5 million under the African Emergency Food Production Facility and $2.31 billion from other projects.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Bank’s Director General for Nigeria, Abdul Kamara, said TAAT III would accelerate the delivery of proven, climate-resilient technologies to farmers at scale, strengthening productivity and aligning agricultural reforms with the Bank’s development priorities.
The Officer in Charge of the Bank’s Vice Presidency for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr. Martin Fregene, noted that the earlier phases vetted and scaled agricultural technologies, strengthened seed systems and supported digital platforms to expand farmers’ access to innovation.
According to Dr. Fregene, TAAT has integrated 238 technology use cases
into 46 investment projects across 31 countries.
In his remarks, Simeon Ehui, Director General of IITA and CGIAR’s Regional Director for Continental Africa, said the programme has reached more than 25 million farmers, achieving productivity increases of up to 69 percent in targeted crops.
He added that under the emergency food production facility, nearly 477,000 metric tons of improved seeds were distributed to over 14 million smallholder farmers.
TAAT III aims to consolidate earlier gains by strengthening regional technology delivery systems, supporting national research institutions and private seed companies to expand production of climate-resilient seeds.
The phase will also promote digital platforms, e-extension services and the development of a Regional Technology Market to enhance cross-border access to agricultural innovations.
The Bank said the new phase will further build farmers’ resilience by improving climate data systems, strengthening extension services and attracting private sector investment into agriculture.
The initiative aligns with broader continental goals on food security, poverty reduction and sustainable development.