By Muniratu Akweley Issah
Accra, March 21, GNA – Phase II of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security has been launched in Accra.
TAAT is a flagship program launched by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to promote the dissemination of agricultural technology in collaboration with a range of national and international partners in support of the Feed Africa strategy.
It is also designed to support countries in the subregion to improve crop, livestock and fish productivity by expanding access to adaptive and proven technologies to more than 40 million smallholder farmers across Africa by 2025 and to produce more 120 million tons of food. until the end of the three-year project.
Phase II of the TAAT project is themed: “Towards an enabling environment for the adoption and scaling up of technologies for the transformation of Agriculture in Ghana”.
Dr. Chrysantus Akem, TAAT coordinator, said the program was initiated because of the challenges affecting the sub-region due to low productivity, lack of technology, major regional food shortages, post-harvest losses, adverse effects of climate change, of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the Russian Ukraine.
Dr Akem said African agriculture was under pressure, causing population growth, huge food imports and changing diets, which increased rural to urban migration.
“The first phase of the program started in 2018 and brought together many partners, we thought the message had been sent, but it became clear that we need to do it again a second time in a large format to create awareness that the program is there and we need more partners to to transform African agriculture,” he said.
The coordinator said some staples such as rice, maize, soybeans, fish and vegetables had been targeted which were important to Ghana’s economy.
“We believe that at the end of the day, Ghanaians themselves will really take care of reaching millions of farmers to make this transformation that we need,” added Professor Paul Bosu, Director General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Ghana, has expressed concern as increasing food production in Africa has not been easy, adding that despite policies, strategies and programmes, the region is lagging behind in achieving food security goals.
He attributed the situation to lack or insufficient inputs, disease and pest problems and limited credit among others.
He said CSIR will work hand in hand with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, farmers, private sector and donor projects to make the project possible by leveraging opportunities.
He commended individuals, institutions and partners who worked to ensure the successful implementation of Phase I, implemented in 34 countries in the region from 2018 to 2021.
Mr. Eyerusalem Fasika, Country Director, AfDB said that the TAAT program had been well coordinated and some technologies had been introduced, hence the need to scale up these technologies in the second phase to further enhance the technologies in the African value chain actors , especially to smallholder farmers to increase their productivity in some selected compacts.
“We believe that by providing the necessary technologies, TAAT will catalyze investment and unlock the continent’s potential for agricultural transformation, where we have the resources, the manpower to achieve food sovereignty and have developed innovative flagships to ensure that no stakeholder he will not be left behind.” she added.
He said for the development of the agricultural sector, it was imperative to address youth unemployment and contribute positively to the current economic challenges across the continent.
Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance, said the program was in line with the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, in its second phase.
He said the government was shifting from the input subsidy program under PFJ Phase 1 to a smart input credit model under PFJ Phase II, which was committed to enhancing food security, promoting sustainable practices and harnessing modern technologies for the benefit of farmers.
He commended the AfDB for its unwavering support and commitment to agrarian transformation in Africa.
Mr. Addo urged all stakeholders and partners to actively participate and cooperate in the implementation of Phase II of TAAT.
GNA