Among cereal crops barley is ranked fourth in the world for both area and production. It is used as an ingredient in different types of bread and made into malt, an important ingredient in beer and whiskey and an increasingly common end-use product in sub-Saharan Africa. Barley is one of the most important staple food crops in the highlands of Ethiopia. Interestingly, South Africa is the largest producer of beer in Africa, followed by Nigeria and Ethiopia. In the temperate highlands of sub-Saharan Africa, wheat and barley are the main staples, complemented by pulses and to a lesser extent tef and potatoes. Barley beer is one of the main sources of cash in the area.

Barley is a highly demanding crop for growing conditions. Therefore, a sustainable increase in the barley production barley is possible through the effective use of fertilizers.