• Nigerian Breweries Plc launched a pilot barley cultivation project involving 1,000 farmers, targeting over 1,000 tonnes of output in 2026.

• Nigeria currently imports around 200,000 tonnes of malted barley annuallyto supply its breweries.

• The brewer aims to integrate 20,000 farmers into the barley value chain by 2030to localize raw material supply.

Nigerian Breweries Plc, the country’s largest beer producer, announced on March 11 that it has begun barley production trials under a pilot project involving 1,000 farmers. The initiative, named the “Maltina Barley Programme,”targets a harvest of more than 1,000 tonnes of the cereal in 2026.

The Lagos-listed brewer said in a statement that the project builds on several years of research conducted with the Lake Chad Research Instituteand the French plant breeder Secobra Research. The partners developed barley varieties adapted to the agro-climatic conditions of northern Nigeria.

Over the longer term, Nigerian Breweries plans to integrate around 20,000 farmersinto the barley value chain by 2030. The strategy aims to progressively localize the brewing industry’s raw material supply.

Although production forecasts remain unclear, the company aims to develop large-scale cultivation to reduce or eliminate Nigeria’s reliance on imported malted barley, which currently stands at about 200,000 tonnes per year.

“The Maltina Barley Programme represents a strategic opportunity to introduce a new crop into Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem, which will support economic diversification and strengthen the local industry. With proven agronomic feasibility, strong market demand and sustained stakeholder engagement, this programme can transform the barley industry in Nigeria and create tangible prosperity for thousands of rural farming households,” said Federico Agressi, Supply Chain Director at Nigerian Breweries Plc.

According to company estimates, more than 400,000 hectares of potentially arable landin northern states—including Jigawa, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and Yobe—could support barley cultivation.

Challenges Ahead

Barley traditionally grows in Mediterranean and temperate climates. As a result, its development in tropical environments may face structural constraints similar to those affecting other cereals such as wheat.

Nigeria began cultivating wheat in the late 1960s, mainly in the northern region where barley trials are now taking place. However, production has fluctuated and has never exceeded the 165,000-tonne peak recorded in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In its latest report on Nigeria’s grain market, the USDA expects wheat production to reach 130,000 tonnes in 2026.

A study published in September 2025 in the International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Sciencenotes that wheat cultivation in Nigeria faces several constraints. These include competition from crops such as rice, which adapt better to local climatic conditions, weak agricultural extension services, persistent insecurity in some production areas, and climate variability, including droughts and floods.

Nigerian Breweries acknowledges these challenges and expects strong public-sector support to scale barley production in the coming years.

“The Maltina Barley project is a long-term commitment. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Sustained partnership with the government will be crucial, particularly in irrigation, mechanization, access to quality inputs and agricultural extension support,”Agressi said.

The success of domestic barley production will ultimately depend on whether Nigeria can achieve sufficient scale and competitiveness to match international supply.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum