Barley is an important rabicrop grown for feed, fodder and malt. During 2008-09, it was grown on an area of 0.16 lakh hectares in Punjab with production of 0.55 lakh tonnes and average yield of 35.5 q/ha. In northern India, barley cultivation is now becoming more and more oriented towards industrial utilization due to consumption of malt products. Farmers have initiated cultivation of newly released malt varieties under contract farming by malt and brewing industries. Barley requires cool weather during early growth and warm and dry weather at the time of maturity. As the crop is drought resistant, it can be grown in the areas with scanty rainfall.
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