Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director-General of IITA, expressed gratitude to AfDB for its ongoing support in advancing Africa’s agricultural transformation. He reaffirmed IITA’s dedication to working with research institutions and the private sector to ensure the program’s success.
Abuja, Nigeria – The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have officially signed a $27 million agreement to fund the second phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program. The signing ceremony, held on Wednesday, reaffirmed AfDB’s commitment to driving agricultural innovation and food security across the continent.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdul Kamara, Director-General of the Nigeria AfDB Group, emphasized that the agreement aligns with the bank’s Feed Africa strategy, which focuses on increasing smallholder farmers’ productivity and strengthening food security. Kamara highlighted that TAAT Phase II builds on the successes of the initial phase, which was backed by $40 million in financing. The new phase aims to provide expanded access to agricultural technologies for more than 40 million smallholder farmers across Africa.
“This initiative is not just about agriculture—it is a transformational effort that enhances food security, strengthens climate resilience, and promotes sustainable agricultural practices,” Kamara stated.
TAAT Phase II is being implemented under the leadership of IITA, in collaboration with other CGIAR Centers and National Agricultural Research Institutions. A portion of the funding—five million euros—comes from the Donor Contributions Window of the Transition Support Facility (TSF), made possible by the Federal Republic of Germany.
This additional investment is expected to empower low-income African nations by improving food systems, boosting farmers’ incomes, and positioning Africa as a net food exporter. The program will also support farmer capacity-building, digital agricultural innovations, extension services, and increased private sector involvement in agribusiness.
Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director-General of IITA, expressed gratitude to AfDB for its ongoing support in advancing Africa’s agricultural transformation. He reaffirmed IITA’s dedication to working with research institutions and the private sector to ensure the program’s success.
“TAAT has already demonstrated the potential of science-driven solutions in enhancing productivity and strengthening food systems,” Ehui remarked. He noted that Phase I successfully introduced improved seed varieties, climate-smart farming practices, and mechanization tools to millions of farmers.
Looking ahead, Phase II will focus on scaling up agricultural technologies, fostering stronger partnerships, encouraging youth and women’s participation in agribusiness, and improving food and nutrition security.
Ehui reiterated IITA’s commitment to working closely with AfDB and other stakeholders to reduce Africa’s reliance on food imports and unlock the continent’s agricultural potential.
“This grant reaffirms our mission to deliver impactful agricultural solutions. Moving forward, sustained investment, policy support, and strong collaboration will be essential to achieving our goals,” he concluded.
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