The African Development Bank’s Director General for Nigeria, Dr Abdul Kamara, and IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui, jointly sign the $16.61 million TAAT III grant agreement in AbujaThe African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a $16.61 million grant to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to scale up agricultural technologies across the African continent, marking a significant boost to efforts aimed at improving food security and building climate resilience in farming systems.
The grant, formalized through a grant agreement signed on 18 February?2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, will finance the third phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT?III) programme, a flagship initiative designed to accelerate the deployment of high impact agricultural innovations from research hubs into farmers’ fields.
TAAT, first launched in 2018, has emerged as one of Africa’s most influential agricultural innovation platforms, reaching nearly 25 million farmers and promoting climate resilient farming practices across more than 35 million hectares of agricultural land. The programme has worked with national partners and research institutions such as the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) to drive measurable productivity gains in staple crops, with increases of up to 69?per cent in some regions and generating over $4 billion in additional agricultural value.
The third phase represents a strategic push to ensure that proven, climate resilient agricultural technologies reach farmers faster and at greater scale. It aims to strengthen seed systems, enhance collaborations among governments and private sector actors, and deepen the integration of technology into national agricultural frameworks.
According to officials from the Bank and IITA, TAAT?III will introduce a more sustainable, private sector?driven delivery model that reinforces seed production and distribution networks while expanding partnerships with agribusinesses, research institutions, and governments across Africa. Digital tools, such as e?catalogues of technologies and real?time monitoring platforms, will support the rapid dissemination of innovations and improve transparency in implementation.
Abdul Kamara, Director General of the Bank Group’s Nigeria Country Department, underscored that the new phase aligns with the AfDB’s broader strategic priorities, particularly its focus on agricultural transformation, climate adaptation, and inclusive growth. He emphasized the importance of strengthening systems that can deliver agricultural innovation efficiently and effectively throughout the continent.
The grant comes at a pivotal moment as many African governments intensify efforts to tackle food insecurity, climate change impacts, and instability in food production systems. By building on past achievements and expanding its reach, TAAT III is expected to help smallholder farmers adopt high yielding, climate smart technologies that improve crop resilience and enhance livelihoods.
Photo Courtesy / AFDB
Article by Jed Mwangi
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