Nigerian Breweries has launched a pilot barley cultivation programme aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on imported malting barley, highlighting a broader push by African economies to strengthen local supply chains for the brewing industry.
The initiative marks a significant step for Nigeria, where barley has historically not been cultivated on a commercial scale despite the country’s large and expanding beer market.
The brewer said the programme is part of a long-term strategy to develop domestic barley farming and could eventually support the local production of malt used in beer brewing. Nigeria aims to scale up cultivation by 2030 if the pilot proves successful.
Across Africa, barley production remains relatively limited compared with other cereals such as maize and wheat, but the grain plays an important role in food systems, livestock feed and brewing.
According to the latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ethiopia leads the continent in barley production, followed by Morocco and Algeria.
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The ranking is based on the FAO’s Food Outlook report published in November 2025, which tracks global grain production trends.
Ethiopia dominates production
Ethiopia harvested an average of about 2.2 million metric tonnes of barley annually between 2021 and 2023, making it Africa’s largest producer.
Barley is a staple crop in Ethiopia’s agricultural landscape and is widely consumed in both rural and urban households. The grain is used in foods such as porridge and traditional dishes including injera, a sourdough flatbread, as well as beverages such as tella.
The crop is also increasingly used by Ethiopia’s expanding brewing industry for malt production.
Historically concentrated in the country’s southeastern highlands, barley cultivation has gradually expanded into central and northern regions as multinational brewing and malting companies invest in supply chains and farmer support programmes.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the malting and brewing sector accounts for about 45 percent of total barley demand in Ethiopia. The commercial food and beverage industry accounts for roughly 23 percent, households consume about 27 percent and seed demand represents around five percent.
Barley cultivation in Ethiopia covers nearly one million hectares of farmland, making it one of the country’s most important cereal crops.
North Africa remains a major supplier
In North Africa, Morocco ranks as the continent’s second-largest barley producer, with an average annual output of around 1.6 million tonnes between 2021 and 2023.
Barley is the country’s second most widely grown cereal after wheat and is cultivated across nearly one million hectares.
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The crop is used primarily as livestock feed for sheep, cattle and goats, although it can also be consumed by humans as an alternative to wheat.
Despite strong production levels, Morocco still relies on imports to fill the gap between domestic supply and demand. National output covers roughly 80 percent of local consumption, estimated at around two million tonnes annually.
Neighbouring Algeria ranks third on the continent with an average annual production of about 800,000 tonnes over the same period.
However, Algeria remains heavily dependent on imports because domestic production covers only about 42 percent of its annual consumption needs, estimated at nearly 1.9 million tonnes.
As in Morocco, barley in Algeria is used mainly for livestock feed, although smaller quantities are processed into traditional foods such as bread and couscous.
Smaller producers rely on imports
Further east in North Africa, Tunisia produces an average of around 347,000 tonnes of barley annually, according to FAO data.
The country is among the most import-dependent barley consumers in Africa, with domestic production covering only about a quarter of national demand.
Barley cultivation in sub-Saharan Africa
In sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa is the continent’s second-largest producer after Ethiopia, producing an average of around 337,600 tonnes per year between 2021 and 2023.
Most of Tunisia’s barley crop is used as fodder for livestock, particularly in feedlot systems.
Barley is grown mainly as a winter crop in parts of the Northern Cape, Western Cape and North West provinces, covering roughly 100,000 hectares.
The grain is used primarily for malt production for the brewing industry, although some quantities are also used as animal feed.
Industry analysts say initiatives such as Nigeria’s pilot cultivation programme could gradually expand barley production across Africa, helping reduce import dependence while supporting growing demand from the continent’s brewing and livestock sectors.
