Nigeria’s largest brewing company, Nigerian Breweries Plc, is advancing plans to switch fully to locally grown barley as part of a broader strategy to reduce import dependence and strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain.
The initiative marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s brewing industry, which currently relies heavily on imported malted barley to produce beer and malt-based beverages. The company says developing a domestic barley supply chain could help reduce the industry’s annual import bill of more than 200,000 tons of malted barley, valued at about $ 150 million.
The development was highlighted at the 2026 Maltina Barley Field Day in Ringim, Jigawa State, where the company showcased results from its pilot barley farming programme involving hundreds of Nigerian farmers.
For Nigerian Breweries, the move represents an important milestone in its long-term strategy of local sourcing, agricultural development, and supply chain resilience.
Why Nigerian Breweries Is Investing in Local Barley
Barley is a key ingredient in brewing beer and producing malt beverages. In Nigeria, however, the crop has historically been imported due to limited local cultivation.
According to industry data shared by the company, Nigeria’s brewing sector imports roughly 200,000 tons of malted barley each year, resulting in more than $ 150 million in annual exports.
This heavy dependence on imports exposes breweries to foreign exchange volatility and global supply chain disruptions.
By cultivating barley locally, Nigerian Breweries hopes to:
- reduce pressure on foreign exchange
- support domestic agriculture
- strengthen local supply chains
- create new economic opportunities for farmers
Company executives say the goal is to build a sustainable barley value chain rooted in Nigeria.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Thibaut Boidin explained that the vision is to develop a production system powered by Nigerian farmers while maintaining the quality standards required by the brewing industry.
The Maltina Barley Programme
The company’s barley initiative is being driven by the Maltina Barley Programme, a long-term agricultural project designed to test the viability of barley cultivation in Nigeria.
During the latest planting season, more than 1,000 smallholder farmers participated in the pilot programme. The farms produced an estimated 1,000+ tons of barley, demonstrating the crop’s potential in Nigeria’s climate.
Although this output remains small relative to national demand, the results demonstrate that barley can be successfully cultivated locally.
The project has involved extensive research and development carried out in collaboration with the Lake Chad Research Institute and international agricultural partners.
Through this research effort, scientists developed three high-yielding barley varieties adapted to Nigeria’s climate.
These varieties include:
- Traveler
- Explorer
- Prunella
The varieties were officially registered in 2024 after years of field trials and agronomic research.
Support for Farmers and Agricultural Partners
To ensure the programme’s success, Nigerian Breweries has partnered with several agricultural organisations that provide technical and logistical support to participating farmers.
Farmers involved in the programme receive:
- improved barley seeds
- fertilisers and crop inputs
- mechanised farming support
- guaranteed purchase of harvested barley
Partners such as OCP Africa and Hello Tractor provide mechanisation and input services that help farmers improve productivity and efficiency.
The company also offers off taker agreements that guarantee a market for farmers’ produce, reducing financial risk for participants.
This model ensures that smallholder farmers benefit directly from the emerging barley value chain.
Northern Nigeria Identified as Key Production Zone
Agricultural studies conducted as part of the programme identified about 400,000 hectares of land suitable for barley cultivation across several northern states.
The potential farming zones include:
- Jigawa
- Bauchi
- Kano
- Plateau
- Yobe
These areas provide climate conditions that support barley growth, especially during the dry season when irrigation is available.
Experts believe that with proper infrastructure and policy support, Nigeria could eventually produce a significant share of the barley needed for its brewing industry.
Plans to Scale the Barley Value Chain
Nigerian Breweries has outlined ambitious targets for expanding the programme over the coming years.
The company aims to integrate about 20,000 farmers into the barley value chain by 2030, significantly increasing domestic production capacity.
To support this expansion, the initiative has received funding support from international development partners.
The UK funded Propcom Plus programme has committed about £330,000 in funding for 2026 to support agricultural development under the project.
However, scaling the programme will require significant investment in infrastructure.
Industry stakeholders say irrigation systems, mechanized farming equipment, and improved logistics will be essential for achieving commercial scale barley production.
Economic Impact for Nigeria
If successful, the initiative could deliver major economic benefits for Nigeria.
Local barley production would help retain millions of dollars currently spent on imports while strengthening domestic agriculture.
It could also create thousands of jobs across farming communities and agricultural supply chains.
The project mirrors earlier efforts by Nigerian Breweries to promote local sourcing of other raw materials such as sorghum and cassava, which are already used in several locally brewed beverages.
Through its broader backward integration strategy, the company has invested heavily in agricultural value chains that support Nigerian farmers and rural communities.
A New Era for Nigeria’s Brewing Industry
The shift toward home grown barley reflects a broader trend across Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, where companies are increasingly looking to local sources for raw materials.
Rising foreign exchange costs and global supply disruptions have pushed many manufacturers to rethink import dependent production models.
For Nigerian Breweries, building a sustainable barley ecosystem could redefine the future of brewing in Nigeria.
If the company achieves its ambition of full local barley sourcing, it would mark a major milestone not only for the beverage industry but also for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
