The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) is targeting to add 120 million metric tons in Africa’s food production, valued at $1.5 billion to $2.8 billion.
The TAAT Coordinator at the African Development Bank (AfDB), Jonas Chianu disclosed this during a presentation at the 6th African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) Conference held in Abuja.
Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) is a program initiated by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of its Feed Africa Initiative.
The main objective of the program is to improve the business of agriculture across Africa by raising agricultural productivity, mitigating risks and promoting diversification and processing in 18 agricultural value chains within eight Priority Intervention Areas (PIA).
Chianu said TAAT was seeking to increase agricultural productivity across Africa by deploying proven agricultural technologies to farmers, and also in a partnership that brings together all the key players in a unique delivery system to make regional approach happen.
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He, however, listed the expected outcome of the program to include “raising productivity and increase food production over the next 8-10 years.
Listing some of the achievements of the program, Chianu said “several commodity value chain stakeholders have been e-registered (Rice, Wheat, Maize, HIB, etc.). Numerous improved and climate-smart crop varieties have been deployed (Maize, Wheat, Rice, HIB, Cassava, etc.).
“Challenges of access/permit for water bodies/dams/reservoir usage for aquaculture production have identified (Aquaculture). Participation in formulation of numerous country programs (Cassava, HIB, Maize, Rice, Aquaculture, Small Livestock, etc.).”
With respect to wheat, the quantity of heat-tolerant varieties deployed as basic, certified and quality-declared seeds under TAAT program activities are 30,500 MT for Sudan, 25,438 MT for Ethiopia, 7,600 MT for Nigeria.
Other ps are 1,060 MT for Zimbabwe, 642 MT for Tanzania, 450 MT for Kenya, 72 MT for Eritrea, 70 MT for Niger, and 9 MT for Mauritania.
“Across varieties, 4.2 tons of breeder seed of climate-smart rice, expected to be planted in 120 hectares of land were supplied to SMEs in 5 countries (Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal),” Chianu added.
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