The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have signed a $27 million agreement to finance the second phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Wednesday, Abdul Kamara, AfDB’s Director-General for Nigeria, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to transforming agriculture across Africa. He stated that the agreement aligns with AfDB’s Feed Africa strategy, which aims to enhance smallholder farmers’ productivity and strengthen food security.
Kamara noted that the additional financing builds on the $40 million provided for TAAT Phase I and will expand access to agricultural technologies for over 40 million smallholder farmers across the continent.
TAAT Phase II will focus on:
- Farmer capacity building
- Digital agriculture solutions
- Extension services
- Private sector investment in agricultural value chains
IITA Director-General Simeon Ehui commended AfDB’s support and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to advancing agricultural innovation. He highlighted the successes of TAAT Phase I, including the scaling of improved seed varieties, climate-smart farming practices, and mechanisation solutions.
With Phase II, Ehui said the focus would be on accelerating technology deployment, strengthening partnerships, and promoting youth and women’s participation in agribusiness.
He emphasised that continued investment, policy support, and strong collaboration would be crucial in unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential and reducing dependence on food imports.
Credit: NAN (Text Excluding Headline)
