Increase of 1.62 lakh hectares in coarse cereal acreage

The total area under Kharif coarse cereals rose to 186.40 lakh hectares by September 25 this year, marking an increase of 1.62 lakh hectares over the 184.78 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

According to official data, compared to the previous year, the national-level area under *Jowar* (sorghum) increased from 12.61 lakh hectares to 13.82 lakh hectares, *Bajra* (pearl millet) acreage jumped from 62.87 lakh hectares to 64.96 lakh hectares, and the area under small millets rose from 4.15 lakh hectares to 4.52 lakh hectares.

Conversely, the area under maize declined from 94.89 lakh hectares to 93.02 lakh hectares, and *Ragi* (finger millet) acreage fell from 10.26 lakh hectares to 10.08 lakh hectares. Sowing of coarse/nutri-cereals has largely concluded. While a sharp decline in maize acreage was initially observed,

the gap has now narrowed to less than 2 lakh hectares; several states saw a significant improvement in maize sowing during the current month (September). The pace of *Jowar* and *Bajra* sowing had already slowed down. In South India, a deficit in monsoon rainfall provided farmers with an opportunity to increase the area under *Ragi*; sowing for this crop has also now been completed.