The African Development Bank (AfDB) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have signed a five million Euros agreement to finance the Phase II programme of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme .
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja recently, Dr Abdul Kamara, Director-General, Nigeria AfDB Group, described the agreement as a reaffirmation of the Bank’s commitment to Africa’s agricultural transformation.
He said that the agreement aligns with its Feed Africa strategy, which seeks to boost smallholder farmers’ productivity and enhance food security.
”This Additional Financing of the TAAT Programme, is building on Phase 1, which the Bank funded with 40 million dollars, and Phase II with 27 million dollars implemented by IITА (as lead implementer), working closely with other CGIAR Centers and National Agricultural Research Institutions in many countries.
“This Additional Financing of the TAAT Phase 2 Programme is financed with a five million Euro grant from the Donor Contributions Window of the Transition Support Facility (TSF), thanks to the generous contribution of the Federal Republic of Germany.
“TAAT Phase 2 will focus on empowering low-income African countries by increasing productivity, strengthening food systems, improving farmers’ incomes, and positioning Africa to become a net food exporter”, he said.
He added that the programme would support activities such as farmer capacity building, digital agriculture solutions, extension services, and private sector investment in agricultural value chains.
He further stated that AfDB is committed to supporting agricultural research and innovation to drive Africa’s food security agenda, emphasising that TAAT remained a key instrument in achieving the continent’s long-term agricultural goals.
On his part, Dr Simeon Ehui, Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the collective effort to transform agriculture on the continent.
He reaffirmed IITA’s commitment to working with CGIAR Centers, National Agricultural Research Institutions, and the private sector to ensure the success of the programme.
“TAAT has already demonstrated the power of science-driven solutions in improving productivity, strengthening food systems, and enhancing farmers’ resilience to climate change”, he added.
Furthermore, he highlighted the successes of TAAT Phase I, which included the facilitation of the scaling of improved seed varieties, climate-smart practices, and mechanisation solutions to millions of farmers.
For Phase 2, he said efforts would focus on accelerating the deployment of agricultural technologies, strengthening partnerships, promoting youth and women engagement in agribusiness, and enhancing food and nutrition security.
“With this grant, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering impact-driven agricultural solutions. The journey ahead requires sustained investment, policy support, and strong collaboration.
“IITA would continue working closely with AfDB and other stakeholders to ensure the programme contributes to reduction of food imports and unlocks Africa’s agricultural potential”, he said.
