One of the first cultivated crops of history, barley is a highly adaptable crop. It is cultivated as a summer crop in temperate zones, on the other hand, it can be a winter crop in tropical areas. It has a rich nutritional value and is used in food and the production of beverages. In India, barley is grown parallel with wheat, though it can grow well in less rainfall than wheat. It is the fourth important crop in terms of production across the world. Its low input requirement and adaptability to severe environments gave it the title of “poor man’s crop”.