Nairobi: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched Phase III of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme, approving an additional USD16 million to accelerate the adoption of agricultural technologies and bolster food security across Africa. The launch took place at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) campus in Nairobi, marking the continuation of Africa’s largest agricultural technology delivery initiative.
According to Kenya News Agency, the programme is implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on behalf of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Centres and African Agricultural Research, Innovation and Education Institutions (AARIEIs). This phase aims to expand access to certified seed, climate-smart technologies, digital advisory services, and sustainable financing. It also focuses on strengthening regional seed systems and integrating successful innovations into national agricultural investment programmes.
During the launch event, ILRI Director General Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng highlighted the TAAT Clearinghouse as a pivotal component for agricultural transformation, noting its evolution into a platform connecting science, investment, and partnerships across the continent. CGIAR Chief Scientist Dr Sandra Milach emphasized that integrating the TAAT Clearinghouse into CGIAR would ensure it remains a permanent continental asset that links research, national priorities, development finance, and private-sector investment.
AfDB advisor to the Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr Martin Fregene, reiterated the significance of partnerships in transforming African agriculture. He stated, “No institution can transform African agriculture alone. TAAT III connects science to finance, partnerships to implementation, and innovation to impact, enabling the continent to build resilient food systems that can feed Africa.”
Since its inception in 2018 under the Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy, TAAT has impacted over 25 million smallholder farmers, increased productivity by up to 69 per cent, and influenced agricultural investments worth USD3.18 billion. The programme has facilitated the distribution of 488,000 tonnes of climate-resilient seed and the delivery of 3.1 million tonnes of fertiliser, validated over 180 agricultural technologies, and developed national seed roadmaps in eight African countries.
Phase III places a stronger emphasis on sustainability through greater private-sector participation, innovative financing models, and demand-driven technical assistance to African governments. This phase aims to strengthen Africa’s regional technology delivery infrastructure by increasing certified seed production, expanding digital extension services, and improving climate resilience.
TAAT has supported the development of national seed investment roadmaps in countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Benin, C´te d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe to enhance seed production, financing, and policy reforms. The programme will further expand digital agriculture through e-extension platforms, climate information services, and online technology catalogues, enabling governments and development partners to deploy proven agricultural innovations.
In the next phase, TAAT targets an additional 14 million smallholder farmers while supporting youth and women agripreneurs, increasing private-sector investment, and strengthening resilient food systems across the continent. CGIAR Scaling for Impact Director Dr Tim Krupnik remarked that TAAT III provides an opportunity to position CGIAR as a driving force for Africa’s agricultural transformation while enhancing collaboration with governments and financial institutions to scale impact.
