The African Development Bank (AfDB) has earmarked a sum of $120 million to boost agricultural technology among rural African farmers on the continent.
The fund aimed at reaching 40 million farmers across the continent will be disbursed in three divisions between 2018-2021, through the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme.
TAAT Coordinator, Mr. Krishan Bheenick, made this known this during a capacity development and technology outreach programme organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in collaboration with the AfDB and TAAT in Abuja.
Bheenick revealed that the AfDB had plans to raise a total of $800 million for the project implementation across the three years of execution.
The Lead Specialist, Innovation Systems and Partnerships for FARA, Dr. Oluwole Fatunbi, described the training as very significant taking into consideration the place of agriculture extension workers in boosting farm output.
According to Fatunbi, the 70 people being trained from across schools, research institutes and non-governmental organizations will also train 50 others.
He also disclosed that 400 innovation hubs would be set up in the participating countries to meet the needs of at least 25,000 farmers in each of the hubs.
