The African Development Bank and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture have formalized a $27 million agreement to implement Phase II of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation programme.
The initiative aims to increase food security, improve small holder farmers’ productivity, and strengthen Africa’s agricultural sector.
Speaking on the partnership, AfDB’s Director General for Nigeria, Abdul Kamara, highlighted the significance of this second phase.
“This additional financing builds on the $40 million investment from Phase I, with IITA as the executing agency. It will involve more CGIAR Centers and National Agricultural Research Institutions in several countries,” he stated.
The TAAT programme is a key component of the AfDB’s Feed Africa Strategy, which focuses on scaling up proven agricultural technologies to drive food security and economic growth across the continent.
Emphasizing the program’s impact, IITA’s Director General and CGIAR Managing Director for Africa, Simeon Ehui, stated:
“TAAT has been critical in transforming African agriculture, and Phase II will ensure more small holder farmers benefit from improved technologies.”
The new funding will facilitate the expansion of climate-smart agricultural innovations, improved seed distribution, and access to mechanized farming solutions.
The AfDB reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policies that enable Africa to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
