Kharif maize area flat on year at 6.1 mln ha.

Maize sowing in the country has gained momentum, with total area under the coarse grain rising to 6.13 mln ha from 5.11 mln ha as on Jul 12. Maize acreage in the country was largely unchanged from the year-ago period and was only a tad lower from the normal of 6.15 mln ha, based on the average of the past five years. A pick-up in rainfall across the country has boosted planting of maize.

Kharif paddy area down 12% YoY at 15.7 mln ha.

Farmers across the country have sown paddy across 15.65 mln ha this kharif season, down 12.4% on year. Paddy acreage was also below the average area of 17.94 mln ha for the period. The fall in acreage can be attributed to lower planting in top growers Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Punjab. Acreage in Punjab has declined as the state government is encouraging farmers to shift to coarse grains like maize from more water-intensive crops like paddy to check the fall in groundwater level.

Scanty rain hits rice farmers in Bihar, UP.

Despite prediction of normal monsoon this year, things are not looking good as far as eastern and North-eastern parts of the country are concerned. Several parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, two main States of paddy crop, are facing drought-like situation due to shortage of rainfall. According to Agriculture Ministry data, compared to last year rice has been sown in 68 per cent less area in Bihar while UP has witnessed 35 per cent less area sowing under rice cultivation till date. Rain deficiency in Bihar is at 49 per cent whereas UP has recorded 48 per cent less rainfall in Eastern and Western parts.

Pakisatn Rice worth $ 2.073 bln exported in last year.

About 4.106 million tons of rice worth US$ 2.073 billion were exported during 12 months of last financial year as compared the exports of 3.523 million tons valuing US$ 1.606 billion of the corresponding period of last years. The exports of the above-mentioned commodity had registered 26.78 per cent growth during the period under review.