Crop production begins with the selection and planting of good-quality seed. It is the basic and fundamental input for food production. Without high-quality seeds, crop production becomes impossible and the affordability of high-quality foods is threatened.

In light of this, Legacy Crop Improvement Centre (LCIC) was established in 2015 to make high-quality seeds available to farmers in Ghana and neighbouring countries in West Africa.

Headquartered at Legacy Square at Otareso in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region, LCIC has since its inception served farmers and other seed companies in Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Mali with high-quality hybrid seeds of maize, cowpea, and soybean.

In the 2023 farming season, the company introduced its climate-smart yellow hybrid seed maize under the trade name LEGACY 26. This maize seed has a grain yield potential of eight tonnes per hectare which is equivalent to eighty 100kg bags, with an early maturing period of 85 days.

Farmers across Ghana have been introduced to the climate Smart maize variety that holds immense potential to ensure self-sufficiency, food, and nutrition security. Following successful first season planting in the 2023 major season in the southern and middle belt of Ghana, farmers are now expressing enthusiasm about the remarkable benefits offered by this innovative plant variety.

Legacy 26 was developed through years of vigorous research and thrives in diverse climatic conditions, making it an ideal choice for farmers facing the threats of climate variability. It possesses unique traits that enhance resilience, enabling farmers to combat the devastating effects of erratic rainfall patterns.

To appreciate the importance and significance of Legacy 26, LCIC together with some selected input dealers distributed the seeds to some farmers in Winneba, Kpeve, Begoro, Tamale and Tumu.

The move was to showcase the exceptional qualities of the seed and equip farmers with the knowledge and expertise needed for successful maize production. During this trial, farmers have witnessed firsthand the remarkable performance of Legacy 26. The seed exhibited remarkable growth, producing yields even in regions affected by water scarcity and its related constraints.

The resilience of the seed has been appreciated by the farmers, as it demonstrates the ability to withstand harsh conditions without compromising productivity. They believe that this climate-smart variety of maize can significantly contribute to increase in maize grain production, thereby reducing their vulnerability to climate variability and improve their livelihoods.

Agro input dealer King Kwame who is the CEO of Eduanepa Fertilizer in Ho said; ‘I am amazed by the performance of the variety. Despite the erratic rainfall this season, the crop has performed well."

Bruce Barson, a farm manager in Tumu, also expressed his excitement about the performance of the variety. He said that even though there was no application of fertilizer and there was also drought for about three weeks, the variety performed well.

Legacy 26 is a game-changer and has the potential to address food and nutrition insecurity and mitigate the impact of climate variability in farming communities. By adopting this variety and other climate-smart varieties, farmers can contribute to sustainable food production and contribute to the overall resilience of the food value chain.

As Ghana looks to build a resilient food production and supply system, Legacy 26 offers hope and possibilities that can
positively transform the lives of farmers for present generations and generations unborn.

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The writer is the Team Lead, Research & Innovation with the Legacy Crop Improvement Centre