Engages 2,000+ barley farmers through the SmartBarley program across key growing states- Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

AB InBev India today marked the 6th Annual Barley Growers Day in Chomu, Rajasthan, in the presence of Jhabar Singh Kharra, Minister of Urban Development & Self-Governance, Government of Rajasthan, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening India’s barley ecosystem through its flagship SmartBarley Program. The initiative continues to empower over 2,000 farmers across Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, while advancing sustainable agriculture, scientific farming practices and resilient local supply chains. In India, the SmartBarley program has delivered results over the last decade across its three core pillars, farmer skill development, digital connectivity and financial empowerment.

Commenting on this edition, Ingrid De Ryck, Chief Sustainability Officer, AB InBev said, “SmartBarley reflects how sustainability comes to life at AB InBev, through strong local partnerships, innovative agriculture practices and a deep commitment to farmers’ livelihoods. We are grateful to our farmer partners for their leadership and openness to innovation. By investing in skills, connectivity and sustainable agriculture practices, we are helping farmers build resilience while advancing our global ambition to source high quality ingredients and strengthen agricultural ecosystems for the long term.”

The 2026 edition of Barley Growers Day brought together farmers, agronomists, research experts, supply-chain partners and policymakers for a full day of knowledge-sharing, innovation showcases and farmer recognition. The event spotlighted AB InBev India’s focus on technology-enabled, sustainable barley cultivation, at a time when domestic malt-quality barley is becoming increasingly critical for India’s agri and beverage value chain.

Globally, AB InBev operates agriculture programs across key barley-growing regions to support farmers with science-based agronomy, sustainable agriculture practices, digital tools and stronger market access. In India, this global approach is translated into deep, long-standing partnerships with barley farmers. In India, AB InBev has been working with barley farmers since 2009, with the SmartBarley framework formally launched in 2016. The company said it will continue to expand the program into new regions, increase per-farmer land allocation to malt-quality barley and deepen long-term farmer partnerships.

“We thank our farmer partners for their trust and adoption-led regenerative practices. Their partnership is what turns ambition into measurable outcomes and builds the resilient barley supply chains of the future,” said Arun Jacob Mathews, Director – Procurement & Sustainability, AB InBev India. “We have proven that when farmers are equipped with regenerative agriculture practices and timely insights, they build the resilient supply chains of the future.”

As part of its broader commitment to farmer well-being, AB InBev India is also supporting a vision care intervention for barley farmers in Rajasthan. In partnership with VisionSpring Foundation, the company is facilitated vision screenings and prescription eyeglass provision for 400+ barley farmers in Chomu, addressing a critical yet often overlooked factor affecting farm productivity and safety. The initiative builds on insights from a previous pilot, which revealed that a significant proportion of farmers were living with uncorrected vision impairments despite the vision-intensive nature of agricultural work. Research-backed evidence indicates that correcting vision can improve productivity by up to 30%, while also enhancing comfort, confidence and workplace safety. Through targeted, high-impact health interventions, AB InBev India aims to remove structural barriers that limit farmer potential and strengthen resilience across its agricultural value chain.

SmartBarley continues to scale as AB InBev India’s farmer‑first platform, linking science, digital tools and market access to strengthen domestic barley sourcing. The company will advance evidence‑based interventions, and 2026 procurement plans to build more resilient, local supply chains. Barley Growers Day 2026 is part of AB InBev’s global ‘Cheers to Farmers’ platform, underscoring that resilient agricultural systems are foundational to sustainable business growth, delivering measurable outcomes for farmers, supply chains and the broader agri‑economy.