Status, Opportunities, Challenges and Emphases for Future Interventions of Malt Barley (Hordeum distichum L.) Production in Ethiopia

Malt barley is a recently introduced malting crop in the highland of Ethiopia used for preparing alcoholic beverages, especially beer. It is the main source of income for smallholder farmers and is also important to meet the domestic malt demand of breweries. In Ethiopia, there are potential areas for malt barley production. The national malt production interest meets through expansion in different areas of the country. The malt barley productivity is limited due to the lack of high yield potential varieties, insects, diseases, weeds, waterlogging, low soil fertility, drought and soil acidity. In addition, there are also limited knowledge, skills and information that impede meeting the ever-increasing national demand. The objective of this paper is to review the status, opportunities, challenges and emphases for future interventions in malt barley production in Ethiopia. This review was done by gathering different published and unpublished materials and appropriate information from various literature sources like libraries, research reports, conferences, journals, books and internet centers. Initiatives and strategic plans, opportunities and the main limitations and obstacles encountered for malt barley production and productivity need attention for improvement adoption, production and productivity. It concludes many activities should be done to create a good linkage among farmers, seed producer cooperatives and unions, seed enterprises, agricultural extension offices, research institutions, NGOs and the Ministry of Agriculture to improve the supply of quality seed malt barley and to satisfy the increasing malt barley demand in Ethiopia.