Nigeria’s largest brewer has cracked the code on growing barley at home, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Nigerian Breweries Plc has taken its boldest step yet toward ending a $150 million annual import dependency, after a landmark pilot programme proved that barley, long considered a temperate-climate crop, can thrive commercially in Nigerian soil.
At its Maltina Barley Field Day held in Ringim, Jigawa State on March 6, 2026, over 1,000 smallholder farmers cultivated the crop under the Maltina Barley Programme, with expected output exceeding 1,000 tonnes. It is a drop in the ocean against national demand, but the point has been made.
Nigeria’s brewing industry currently imports around 200,000 tonnes of malted barley each year, sending over $150 million out of the economy. Every bottle of Star Lager, every can of Maltina, carries that invisible import cost, a cost NB now wants to reclaim.
“Our ambition is clear: to develop a barley value chain that is rooted in Nigerian soil, powered by Nigerian farmers, and capable of meeting the quality standards required by industry.” — Thibaut Boidin, MD/CEO, Nigerian Breweries Plc
The ambition is backed by years of science. Research carried out in partnership with two agricultural institutions led to the registration of three high-yield barley varieties, Traveler, Explorer, and Prunella, in 2024. These climate-adapted strains are the foundation on which NB is building its supply chain revolution.
Farmers in the pilot didn’t just receive seeds. Participating smallholders received quality seeds, fertilisers, and mechanised services through specialist agricultural partnerships, with guaranteed off-take to ensure stable market access.
The land potential is striking. A joint study has identified over 400,000 hectares of farmland suited for barley across Jigawa, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau, and Yobe states. The programme has also attracted £330,000 in climate-smart agriculture funding for the 2026 season.
But NB’s supply chain chief is keeping expectations measured.
“Building a sustainable commercial barley value chain in Nigeria is a long journey. It will require hard work and persistence from everyone involved, including strong and consistent support from the government.” — Federico Agressi, Supply Chain Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc
Shares of Nigerian Breweries have gained about 9 percent on the local bourse since January, a signal that investors are watching this localisation push closely. Localising barley sourcing would dramatically improve already strong margins for a brewer that posted record revenues in its last financial year.
This isn’t NB’s first rodeo with grain localisation. The brewer previously led a successful push into sorghum, a crop that now forms a significant share of raw material inputs for several of its brands. The playbook, it seems, is familiar.
The company is targeting integration of 20,000 farmers into the barley value chain by 2030, a target that, if met, would reshape northern Nigeria’s agricultural economy and keep hundreds of millions of dollars at home.
As the CEO put it, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Read More on Drinkabl.media:
- These Are the 20 Nigerian Beverage Companies to Watch in 2026
- Champion Breweries Drops Its Compliance Flag, Completes a Pan-African Power Play
- Japan’s Asahi Cracks Africa Wide Open With Landmark $4.8bn EABL Deal
- Beverage Industry Tightens the Noose on Bottle-Theft Networks
- Data Story: Brewery Firms With The Highest Revenue Generated In H1 2024
