Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT)’s array of ground-breaking agri-tech solutions was on display at the 2023 Marché des Innovations et des Technologies Agricoles (MITA) recently held in Ouagadougou.

Organised by the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) with a focus on climate-smart, gender & nutrition-sensitive #technologies, TAAT presented over 150 innovations, paving the way for a brighter and more resilient food system in the country.

MITA, a CORAF initiative, is an annual event that provides opportunities for research, the private/public sector and potential users of technologies and innovations to meet, and therefore create a situation where proven technologies are presented to potential “buyers” with B-to-B (Business-to-Business) meeting spaces.

For the 2023 edition, particular emphasis was placed on “gender and nutrition sensitive technologies”.

Over 150 participants from West and Central Africa converged in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 12^th to 15^th September to showcase technologies and innovations that respond to the chosen theme and to draw attention of the private sector and farmers to invest in such technologies and innovations that improve crop productivity, the quality of processed products and access to market.

The TAAT Programme Coordinator, Dr. Chrys Akem, in his presentation at plenary, brought to light over 150 vetted gender and youth responsive technologies and innovations being disseminated at scale by the programme. Mechanisms for deployment by TAAT through interventions such as demonstrations, supply of Early Generation Seeds (EGS) and training-of trainers to cascade down to farmers were illustrated.

According to Dr Akem, TAAT provides support to improve agri-input policy environment, the development of seed roadmaps and the integration of proven technologies in national and regional projects.

Ms. Michele Codja, a Technology Profiler at the TAAT Clearinghouse demonstrated the electronic technology catalogue platform that facilitates access to the TAAT-vetted technologies and explained how complementary innovations can be leveraged to boost productivity and market access.

TAAT technologies were further exhibited in a booth eliciting visits by many participants, including the Burkinabe Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Prof. Adjima Thiombiano. 

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