$16.6m Grant to Scale Agricultural Technologies Across Africa
The African Development Bank Group has awarded a $16.6 million grant to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to expand the reach of climate-resilient agricultural technologies across Africa.
The grant agreement, signed on 18 February in Abuja, launches the third phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation programme, known as TAAT-III. The initiative aims to accelerate the delivery of proven agricultural innovations, strengthen seed systems and deepen collaboration among research institutions, governments and private sector partners.
Since its inception in 2018, the TAAT programme has reached nearly 25 million farmers and supported the adoption of climate-resilient practices across more than 35 million hectares. Working closely with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and national partners, the programme has helped increase crop yields by up to 69 percent and generated more than $4 billion in additional agricultural value.
Countries including Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria have recorded significant productivity gains and improved resilience to climate shocks. In Nigeria, for example, farmers participating in the Wheat Compact more than doubled yields after adopting heat-tolerant varieties supported by the programme.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Abdul Kamara, Director General of the African Development Bank’s Nigeria Country Department, said TAAT-III would focus on scaling innovation more rapidly and sustainably. He noted that the new phase reinforces systems that deliver technology to farmers while aligning agricultural transformation with the Bank’s strategic priorities.
The programme is financed through the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional financing window. TAAT-III will consolidate earlier gains while introducing a more private sector-driven delivery model. It will strengthen seed and technology distribution networks, expand partnerships with agribusinesses and governments, and enhance the use of digital tools such as technology catalogues and real-time monitoring platforms.
Dr Simeon Ehui, Director General of IITA, said the new phase would deepen the delivery of science-based solutions that improve farmers’ productivity and livelihoods. He added that scaling these technologies is essential to making Africa’s food systems more resilient and competitive.
TAAT-III is expected to reach an additional 14 million farmers across 37 low-income and vulnerable countries supported by the African Development Fund, embedding agricultural innovation within long-term national investment strategies.
