Olufemi Adeyemi
New efforts are underway to strengthen Africa’s food systems following the signing of a $16.61 million grant agreement between the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for the third phase of the African Agricultural Transformation Technology Program (TAAT-III).
Details of the agreement were made public on Friday in a statement on the World Bank website, confirming that the signing took place in Abuja. The partnership aims to accelerate the modernization of African agriculture through the deployment of proven technologies, stronger seed systems, and increased collaboration between research institutions, government, and private sector stakeholders.
According to the AfDB, previous phases of the program have already expanded climate-resilient agricultural practices on more than 35 million hectares of land. The new phase is expected to strengthen these achievements while accelerating the deployment of innovation in vulnerable low-income countries.
Focus on innovation and delivery system expansion
Officials said TAAT-III will prioritize scaling up agricultural innovation faster and strengthening delivery mechanisms to ensure technology reaches farmers more efficiently. The program aligns with broader continental efforts to transform Africa’s food systems and build resilience to climate-related shocks.
Abdul Kamara, Director of the World Bank Group’s Country Department for Nigeria, said the initiative underscores the Bank’s commitment to delivering climate-resilient technologies at scale. He noted that the third phase will strengthen systems that support innovation and align agricultural transformation with the Bank’s strategic focus areas, known as the four key points.
Similarly, Simeon Efui, Director of the Institute of Tropical Agriculture, said: (IITA) said TAAT-III is an opportunity to deepen the delivery of science-based solutions that improve farmers’ productivity and livelihoods. He said collaboration with the World Bank and other partners would further strengthen Africa’s food systems and competitiveness.
Backed by concessional financing
TAAT-III is funded through the African Development Fund, the concessional lending arm of the AfDB Group. The new phase introduces a more sustainable, private sector-led delivery model and is designed to expand the reach of support while building on previous successes.
The bank reported that the program, through collaboration with CGIAR and national and regional partners, has recorded measurable productivity gains in several African countries. It also creates significant economic value while increasing resilience to climate change.
According to AfDB data, TAAT increased crop yields by up to 69% and generated more than $4 billion in additional agricultural value across participating countries.
Countries including Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria have reported significant improvements in key crop productivity and climate resilience under this initiative.
For example, in Nigeria, farmers who participated in the Wheat Compact and adopted improved heat-tolerant wheat varieties more than doubled their yields from 1.7 to 3.5 tonnes per hectare. Additionally, seed system assessments supported by this program informed national reforms aimed at expanding access to certified climate-resilient seeds.
Expand your reach to millions more farmers
Founded in 2018, TAAT has grown to become one of Africa’s largest agricultural innovation platforms, reaching approximately 25 million farmers and improving productivity of key staple crops.
In the new phase, TAAT-III is expected to serve an additional 14 million low-income and vulnerable farmers in 37 countries with support from the African Development Fund.
The development comes within AfDB’s broader funding efforts to strengthen climate-smart agriculture on the continent. Just last week, the World Bank approved a $200 million loan to support climate-smart, technology-driven agriculture in Nigeria, further strengthening the bank’s commitment to transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape.
