This year’s Kharif season has recorded a remarkable rise in the sowing of coarse cereals, primarily driven by a surge in maize acreage, which has reached record levels. While other coarse cereals have shown marginal variations in acreage, maize has emerged as the key contributor to the overall growth. With the sowing process nearly complete, crops are progressing through various growth stages. Harvest preparations are expected to gather momentum from next month. However, excess rainfall and localized flooding have caused partial damage in some areas, which is currently under assessment. Overview According to official figures, the total sown area under coarse cereals during Kharif 2025 has increased to 19.291 million hectares, compared to 18.075 million hectares during the same period last year — an expansion of 1.216 million hectares. Maize: The largest contributor to this growth, maize acreage rose from 8.43 million hectares last year to 9.484 million hectares this year, marking a new all-time record. Jowar (Sorghum): Declined slightly from 1.414 million hectares to 1.407 million hectares. Bajra (Pearl Millet): Improved marginally from 6.807 million hectares to 6.844 million hectares. Ragi (Finger Millet): Increased from 0.982 million hectares to 1.024 million hectares. Small Millets: Expanded from 0.442 million hectares to 0.531 million hectares. State-Level Trends Maharashtra: Farmers shifted acreage from soybean and cotton towards maize, showing significant enthusiasm for maize cultivation. Karnataka: Maize sowing was less encouraging compared to last year, with no substantial increase. Rajasthan: The leading bajra-producing state faced natural calamities, leading to crop damage in several areas. Production Outlook Maize crops are in satisfactory condition across most producing states, with expectations of a bumper harvest. Other coarse cereals remain in stable-to-improving condition, though yields in disaster-affected regions may face some decline.