Acreage of bajra in the ongoing kharif season is at 5.45 mln ha as of 21 July, up nearly 30% from 4.20 mln ha year ago. The current area is also higher than the five-year average of 4.13 mln ha for the period. In Rajasthan, the largest grower of the coarse grain, the crop is sown over 3.91 mln ha, up from 2.54 mln ha in last kharif season. The state cultivates over half of the total kharif bajra in the country. Good monsoon in Rajasthan have boosted the sowing of the coarse grain. In the southwest monsoon season so far, the state has received 212.1 mm rains, 34% above the normal.