The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have jointly signed a $16.61 million grant agreement to launch the third phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Programme (TAAT-III).

TAAT-II is a climate-resilient food production project.

In a statement on Thursday by AfDB communication officer Nkiruka Ugoh, the financial institution disclosed that the latest agreement—signed on February 18 in Abuja—would foster shared commitment to modernising agriculture in Africa.

The bank stated that the new agreement would particularly improve technological development, strengthen seed systems, and broaden partnerships.

“The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have signed a $16.61 million grant agreement to launch the third phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Program (TAAT-III), aimed at scaling climate-resilient food production across the continent.

“Nigeria has been a key beneficiary of TAAT initiatives. Under its Wheat Compact, farmers adopting improved heat-tolerant varieties more than doubled yields from 1.7 tons per hectare to 3.5 tons per hectare.

“The programme’s third phase seeks to embed these innovations within 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,” Ms Nkiruka stated.

The director-general of the AfDB Nigeria Country Department, Abdul Kamara, stated that the third phase of the grant scheme would be utilised to scale up innovations and productivity.

“TAAT-III underscores the bank’s commitment to ensuring that proven, climate-resilient agricultural technologies reach farmers faster and at scale.

“This phase strengthens the systems that deliver innovation, helping countries boost productivity, enhance resilience, and align agricultural transformation efforts with the Bank’s four new areas of emphasis, dubbed the Four Cardinal Points,” the director-general said.

Commenting, IITA Director-General Simeon Ehui stated that the new grant scheme would provide the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, as a research organisation, with an ample opportunity to further its efforts and delivery of science-based solutions, which ultimately would improve farmers’ yield.

“TAAT-III allows us to deepen the delivery of science‑based solutions that improve farmers’ yields and livelihoods. Working with the Bank and our partners, we are scaling technologies that make Africa’s food systems more resilient and competitive,” Mr Ehui said.