The development of the new varieties was also to answer numerous demands by consumers and industry since the yellow Quality Protein Maize varieties were particularly targeted at the poultry and livestock industry.

The varieties are CSIR-CRI "Golden Jubilee" to commemorate the Ghana Golden Jubilee, CSIR-CRI "Aziga", meaning big egg in Ewe, CSIR-CRI "Etuto-Pibi", meaning father's child in Gonja and CSIR-CRI "Akposoe" in honour of Dr. M.K Akposoe, a former Senior Maize Breeder of CRI for his contribution towards maize improvement work in Ghana.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday, Professor Emmanuel Owusu-Bennoah, Director-General of CSIR, said the varieties were Quality Protein Maize (QPM) varieties, which contained lysine and tryptophan, the two essential amino acids necessary for the normal growth and development of humans and other monogastric animals such as poultry and pigs.

He said yellow maize varieties were known to give deeper yellow colour of egg yolk and better quality of meat when fed to poultry. "(Hence), farmers have been yearning for a yellow QPM variety for some time now. Golden Jubilee, a yellow version of Obatanpa, has therefore been developed to meet this demand and also help boost the poultry industry."

He said the Jubilee maize was also to complement the President's School Feeding Programme, because of its QPM, to add nutritional value to what the school children were being fed with.

Key attributes of the yellow maize, are that it is a yellow dent open pollinated variety with potential yield of five tons per hectare and matures in 105 to 110 days.

It is suitable for poultry and livestock production and increases growth with high carotene imparting yellow colour to egg yolk, reduces fish meal added to feed for poultry and excellent for enhanced nutrition and health of humans.