$16.6M Program to Reach 14M African Farmers

Millions of African farmers are getting the tools they need to grow more food and weather climate challenges, thanks to a powerful partnership that just got even stronger.

The African Development Bank and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture signed a $16.61 million agreement in February 2026 to launch the third phase of their Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation program. The initiative will bring proven agricultural innovations to 14 million more farmers across 37 low-income countries.

The results so far tell an incredible story. Since 2018, the program has reached nearly 25 million farmers and introduced climate-resilient practices on over 35 million hectares of land. Some crops have seen yield increases of up to 69 percent, generating more than $4 billion in additional agricultural value.

Nigerian wheat farmers experienced some of the most dramatic changes. Using new heat-tolerant wheat varieties, their harvests more than doubled from 1.7 tons per hectare to 3.5 tons per hectare. Similar improvements have been recorded in Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The program works by connecting farmers with research institutions, governments, and private companies to scale up what actually works. Climate-smart seeds, improved farming techniques, and better access to certified materials are helping families grow more food even as weather patterns become less predictable.

The Ripple Effect

When farmers can reliably feed their families and sell surplus crops, entire communities benefit. The program has strengthened food security across the continent while helping countries build agricultural systems that can withstand droughts, floods, and other climate disruptions.

The third phase introduces digital tools like e-catalogues and real-time monitoring platforms to speed up the delivery of innovations. It also brings in more private sector partnerships to ensure solutions can scale quickly and sustainably.

The initiative played a crucial role during global disruptions by helping countries rapidly deploy improved seeds and technologies through the Africa Emergency Food Production Facility. Now those emergency responses are being woven into long-term national agricultural strategies.

Simeon Ehui, Director General of IITA, emphasized that the program delivers science-based solutions that improve both yields and livelihoods while making Africa's food systems more competitive on the global stage.

The expansion will focus on the continent's most vulnerable regions, where improved farming techniques can make the biggest difference in reducing hunger and building economic opportunity. Fourteen million more farming families will soon have access to the seeds, knowledge, and support that have already transformed millions of lives.