According to the architectures of the initiative, Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria have in recent years recorded notable improvements in both productivity and climate resilience.
Nigeria has been a prominent beneficiary of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), particularly under its Wheat Compact, where farmers using improved heat-tolerant wheat varieties saw yields more than double, from 1.7 tons per hectare to 3.5 tons per hectare.
The program-supported that seed system assessments have also informed national reforms to improve access to certified, climate-resilient seeds.
Under the US$16.61 million funding from the Pan African bank signed between the African Development Bank Group and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on 16 February this year the initiative is to drive agriculture development initiatives.
The undertaking to be executed through the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (TAAT) will bring into effect, the third phase (TAAT-III), arguably to devise safety catch against unforeseen shocks to the sector and increase food output.
The funding is sought to among other undertakings, reinforces a shared commitment to modernizing African agriculture by scaling climate-resilient technologies, strengthening seed systems, and expanding collaboration among research institutions, governments, and private sector actors.
The signing of the US$16.61 million grant partnership between AfDB and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Abuja on 18 February signed a $16.61 million grant agreement in Abuja will facilitate the commencement of the third phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT-III) program.
Since its inception in 2018, TAAT has emerged as one of Africa’s most transformative agricultural innovation platforms, reaching nearly 25 million farmers and improving productivity across major staples.
The initiative has introduced climate-resilient practices on over 35 million hectares, contributing to significant gains in crop yields and agricultural value, a statement by the AfDB reads.
Working closely with the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) and national partners, TAAT has achieved up to 69 percent yield increases in some crops and generated more than $4 billion in additional agricultural value.
According to the drivers of the (TAAT-III), the initiative aims to scale innovations more rapidly, strengthen delivery systems, and introduce a private sector-driven model.
The partnership is sought to deepen partnerships with governments and agribusinesses, expand the use of digital tools including e-catalogues and real-time monitoring platforms, and accelerate deployment of high-impact agricultural solutions.
Representatives from the African Development Bank Group, Simeon Ehui, Director General of IITA and the TAAT team attended the Abuja signing ceremony.
The partnership highlights that TAAT-III will enhance the delivery of science-based solutions to improve farmers’ yields and livelihoods while making Africa’s food systems more resilient and competitive.
TAAT has also played a key role in the Africa Emergency Food Production Facility, helping countries quickly deploy improved seeds and technologies during global disruptions.
The third phase seeks to embed these innovations into long-term national agricultural investment strategies.
TAAT-III is expected to reach an additional 14 million farmers across 37 low-income and vulnerable countries served by the African Development Fund, reinforcing Africa’s journey toward sustainable, climate-resilient food security.
Research by agencies biased towards food sufficiency- the Food and Agriculture Organisation, among others, attribute climate change to the severe disruption of African agriculture by reducing crop yields of staples like maize and millet.
Potential output, estimates 50% losses by 2050 due to droughts, floods, and pests. Over 40 million people in West and Central Africa face food insecurity, with 43 million potentially pushed into poverty by 2030.
Key impacts on Africa’s food system include:
There have been significant decreases in staple food production (maize, sorghum, millet) are projected, especially in Southern and Western Africa.
Frequency of climate change has heightened the frequency of droughts, heatwaves, and flooding causes soil degradation, crop failure, and livestock deaths.
Africa’s agricultural production has low to moderate resilience, heavily threatened by climate change, reliance on rain-fed systems, and limited infrastructure.
While vital for the economy (17–20% of GDP), the sector faces acute vulnerability to droughts and floods, which have caused significant productivity declines.
Key Aspects of Agricultural Resilience in Africa:
Research by the Tony Blair Institute shows that over 96% of farmers in some studies are considered to have low resilience to climate shocks, with yields potentially dropping by 18% by 2050 in Africa.
Severe droughts chiefly in Southern Africa have cut maize harvests by 50%. It is feared that limited technology, poor infrastructure, and land degradation hinder capacity.
Solutions include adopting drought-resistant crops (like millet) , climate-smart agriculture (CSA), and improved irrigation.
Efforts to improve resilience include investing in regenerative agriculture and enhancing agricultural education to combat the widening yield gap compared to global standards.