The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), a flagship program sponsored by the African Development Bank (AfDB), held its first TAAT investor forum virtually on 15 February. The event aimed to collaborate with private partners who can adopt proven innovative agricultural technologies to transform African Agriculture. Stakeholders attending the virtual meeting included representatives from IITA Business Incubation Platform, IITA-GOSEED, Niiji Group, and Dangote Rice.
AfDB Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry, Martins Fregene, in his opening remarks, summarized TAAT and its achievements since inception. He noted that private investors should collaborate with TAAT to boost the impact of the program’s technologies. saying, “TAAT is about technologies, scaling, and partnership. And that is why there is a need for the private sector to invest in TAAT.”
He added that the economic motivation for scaling technologies and setting up a strong value chain for input systems, efficient distribution channels, and an efficient, profitable environment should attract more private investment.
The TAAT Cassava Compact displayed the Mobile Cassava Processing Plant technology to solve problems associated with expensive processing factories. They also showcased another technology, the Pro-vitamin A cassava varieties, which are resistant to diseases and pests and have a substantial economic advantage.
The Rice Compact exhibited improved and climate-smart market-preferred rice varieties and hybrids, which give high yield and good grain quality.
TAAT’s Wheat Compact exhibited heat-tolerant wheat varieties that will improve yield. Another technology highlighted was the mechanized raised bed technology that facilitates crop management operation—planting, irrigation, fertilization, harvesting—and lowers production cost by reducing inputs, labor, and time.
The Orange-fleshed Sweet Potato Compact unveiled the Puree Technology that can reduce the use of wheat flour up to 60% in different baked and fried products. They also displayed the sweet potato silage technology, which can serve as a feed that will contribute over 60% of the total cost of production in a profitable dairy cattle enterprise.
The TAAT Maize Compact exhibited the Drought TEGO maize hybrids and Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease tolerant hybrids, which can ensure the stability and productivity of maize crops. The Compact also highlighted the Fortenza Duo chemical for seed treatment that protects the maize crop against Fall Army Worm, a pest that destroys the maize crop.
Similarly, the Sorghum and Millet Compact showcased its Bio-Fortified sorghum and millet varieties. These were developed with high iron content, are high-yielding, drought-tolerant, early maturing, and disease and heat tolerant. The Dual-purpose sorghum and millet variety, another technology showcased, has adverse effects on Striga weeds. The Compact also exhibited the Organic and Mineral Fertilizer Micro-dose for crop growth and productivity stimulation and the Mineral Fertilizer Micro-dose Mechanization technology that reduces arduous work and improves soil fertility.
In his closing remarks, Head of TAAT Clearinghouse Innocent Musabyimana said working better with the private sector will bring agricultural transformation across the continent. He noted that the private sector is an important vehicle that helps technologies reach millions of farmers across the continent. He added that the team would follow up on the private investors who expressed an interest in collaborating.
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