Jigawa Farmers Gain Hope in Local Barley Production

Hope is rising for farmers in Jigawa State as local barley production is being promoted to enhance self-sufficiency in Nigeria. During the 2026 barley field day held in Ringim, Thibaut Boidin, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NB PLC, emphasized the success of cultivating barley in Nigerian soil.

He noted that despite ambitious targets, achieving them requires strong collaboration and support from the government and private sector. Currently, Nigeria's brewing sector relies on approximately 200,000 tons of imported malt barley annually.

The Maltina barley program aims to empower 1,000 smallholder farmers to cultivate barley, expecting a yield of 1,000 tons. The initiative is in its foundational phase, requiring significant coordination and government intervention to build a sustainable commercial barley value chain.

Federico Agressi, the company's Supply Chain Director, highlighted the necessity of consistent support from the government to protect existing industries during this transition. The program aims to empower 20,000 farmers by 2030, with joint studies identifying 400,000 hectares of suitable farmland across northern Nigeria.