Kharif bajra area down 7% on yr at 6.5 mln ha. The area under the bajra crop across the country was at 6.5 mln ha, down 7% on year. The fall in acreage was primarily due to lower area under the crop in Rajasthan, the largest producer. The area under bajra in the state was at 4 mln ha, down 5.8% on year. The state accounts for more than half of Indias bajra output. The fourth advance estimate, production of kharif bajra in 2017-18 (Jul-Jun) is estimated at 9.13 mln tn, compared with 9.73 mln tn in 2016-17.