A high-yielding hybrid maize variety that is tolerant to maize diseases prevalent in the Ghanaian farming environment has been launched to shore up maize production in the country.

The variety, known as CRI-Nkomo hybrid maize seed, was developed through a collaboration between the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) and Newage Agric Solutions Ltd, an indigenous company, to provide Ghanaian farmers with reliable, high-performing seed that improves productivity and farm profitability.

Nkomo combines strong genetics with excellent adaptability to Ghana’s agro-ecological conditions, enabling farmers to achieve higher yields with improved crop vigour and resilience.

The seed, which is white in colour, has an intermediate maturity between 110 and 115 days, is resistant to common maize diseases and has a potential yield of 6-7.5 tonnes per hectare.

Deliberate

Speaking at the launch last Thursday, March 26, 2026, the General Manager of Newage Agric Solutions Ltd, Martin Tettey Nartey, said the decision to partner the CSIR-CRI was deliberate and strategic and rooted in the belief that Ghana already had the science and that what was needed was the scaling up of the impact.

He said maize would remain the backbone of food security and agribusiness in Ghana, with national demand running into millions of metric tonnes annually, driven not just by human consumption but by the rapidly growing poultry and feed industry.

Yet, he said across Ghana and the ECOWAS region, the adoption of high-performing hybrid seeds remained significantly below potential, with many farmers still relying on informal seed systems.

Seed market

Mr Nartey mentioned that Ghana’s seed market is projected to grow from $17.5 million in 2025 to $23.3 million by 2030, stressing, “Yet today, less than one-third of Ghanaian farmers are using improved varieties, meaning the vast majority remain unreached”.

“Our partnership with CSIR-CRI positions us to commercialise some of Ghana’s best-performing hybrid maize varieties — locally developed, scientifically validated, and tailored for our agro-ecological realities,” he stated.

Varieties developed

The Director of CSIR-CRI, Professor Maxwell Asante, said over 300 varieties of various crops have been developed in Ghana, of which CSIR had contributed about 95 per cent, adding that “these cover cereals, roots and tubers, legumes and vegetables, as well as cultivation practices and integrated pest management technologies associated with them”.

“Our strenuous efforts to develop these technologies will be in vain without supportive government policies and strong private sector investment,” he said.

He called on other private sector players to invest in their technologies, including high-yielding, disease- and pest-tolerant, nutrient-dense and climate-smart varieties across various crops.

Further, he urged the government to create an enabling environment for the private sector, especially indigenous companies, to invest in local innovations for national food security and sustainable development.

Reduced maize production

The Director of  Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Office of the President, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, who was the guest speaker, in a virtual address, said that over the years, productivity levels of maize had reduced significantly.

He attributed the decline to climate change and the lack of extension services for farmers on how to manage and implement the right agricultural practices needed to achieve higher yields in maize.

Owing to the growing demand for maize, he said there was a need for research scientists and institutions to partner to see how to come up with improved varieties to enhance maize production.

“Any nation that takes its food sovereignty seriously and improves its existing yields will be able to compete favourably on the international market,” he said.

The Deputy Director, Ghana Seed and Inspection Division, Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, MoFA, Kwasi Wih, advised farmers to rely on only certified seeds as it was the surest way to improve yield.

The Board Chairman, CSIR-CRI, Dr Daniel Fahene Acquaye, who chaired the event, said if farmers are able to adhere to all the required farming protocols, they would double their income due to high yield.

While describing the introduction of the new seed as transformative, he said, “The challenge for Newage Agric Solutions is not just to produce the seeds for the farmers, but rather the challenge is for you to transform the livelihoods of smallholder farmers”.