The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved the commencement of Phase III of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme, reinforcing efforts to accelerate agricultural productivity and resilience across the continent.
The Bank Group’s Board of Directors approved the release of an additional US$16 million to implement the third phase of the programme. The new funding is designed to consolidate previous gains while expanding the reach of proven agricultural technologies to more farmers and countries.
According to the Bank, the approval underscores its core commitment to addressing critical challenges hindering African agriculture. These challenges include low productivity caused by limited access to modern technologies, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient investment in climate-resilient practices.
The urgency behind the decision has been heightened by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has disrupted global supply chains and driven up the prices of essential agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. The Bank noted that these global shocks have further exposed vulnerabilities in Africa’s food systems, making accelerated intervention necessary.
At the signing of the protocol of agreement between the Bank and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), which serves as the executing agency for TAAT, the Bank commended the progress achieved under the first and second phases of the programme. It said the earlier phases galvanized engagements that influenced a total of US$3.18 billion in agricultural investments. This includes US$857.5 million mobilized through the African Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF) large-scale operations and US$2.31 billion through non-AEFPF projects.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Bank’s Director for Nigeria, Dr. Abdul Kamara, said, “TAAT III reflects the Bank’s commitment to ensuring that proven, climate-resilient technologies reach farmers faster and at scale. This new phase strengthens the systems that deliver innovation, helping countries boost productivity, enhance resilience, and align agricultural transformation efforts with the Bank’s Four Cardinal Points.”
Dr. Martin Fregene, Officer in Charge of the Bank’s Vice Presidency for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, stated that TAAT I and TAAT II laid the foundation for tackling agricultural challenges across Africa. He explained that the programme vetted technologies, accelerated the adoption and scaling of proven solutions, promoted climate-resilient practices, built capacities within farming and seed ecosystems, and developed e-platforms to facilitate access to technologies, particularly for smallholder farmers.
“Through technical assistance and collaboration with Regional Member Countries (RMCs) of the Bank and development partners, TAAT has supported the integration of 238 technology use cases into 46 countries and regional investment projects spanning 31 countries,” Dr. Fregene said.
Dr. Abdul Kamara, the Bank’s Director General for Nigeria, added that the institution is strategically positioned to leverage science, knowledge, and innovation to drive Africa’s agricultural transformation. “The Bank is well positioned to harness the power of science, knowledge, and innovation needed to catalyze Africa’s agricultural transformation through this investment. The Bank already has extensive experience in agricultural development assistance in Africa, and this additional funding will help us to consolidate the achievements of TAATs I and II,” he said.
The IITA Director General and CGIAR’s Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr. Simeon Ehui, commended the Bank’s continued commitment to transforming African agriculture through its Feed Africa strategy. He also acknowledged the trust placed in the CGIAR-driven consortium of agricultural research institutions led by IITA to implement the programme’s goals of strengthening food and nutritional security across the continent.
Dr. Ehui assured the Bank of TAAT’s continued focus on providing technical assistance, strengthening seed systems, disseminating climate-smart and high-yielding crop varieties, promoting post-harvest and mechanisation innovations, ensuring knowledge sharing and uptake of innovations, and supporting policy and digital solutions to enhance productivity and resilience.
According to him, these efforts have resulted in productivity increases of up to 69 percent across targeted crops, reaching more than 25 million farmers. He further disclosed that under the implementation of the AEFPF, TAAT provided technical assistance to RMCs, including technical specifications for the supply and quality assurance of certified seeds.
“This assistance has enabled the distribution of 476,747.96 metric tons of improved, climate-resilient seeds to 14.437 million smallholder farmers,” Dr. Ehui said.
He explained that the third phase of the programme will focus on sustainability by institutionalizing the TAAT model within CGIAR and fostering regional cooperation among Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and private sector actors. He noted that the initiative supports the Dakar 2 vision of achieving food sovereignty, increased productivity, and resilient food systems across Africa.
Dr. Ehui added that TAAT III will contribute directly to the Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 13, and 15, which address No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Climate Action, and Life on Land, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision for a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.
The Bank affirmed that TAAT III aims to consolidate and scale the achievements of TAAT I and II while strengthening operational and financial sustainability. The new phase will reinforce regional technology delivery infrastructure by supporting National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and private seed companies to sustainably increase the production and availability of early-generation (EGS) and certified high-yielding, climate-resilient seeds.
