Area under kharif bajra cultivation in the country was up 56.6% at 4.73 mln ha as of 14 July. This is also higher than the five-year average of 2.97 mln ha for the period. In Rajasthan, the largest grower of the coarse grain, the crop was sown over 3.64 mln ha, up from 2.15 mln ha in last kharif season. The state accounts for over half of the total kharif bajra cultivation in the country.