The drop in maize acreage across the country points to a smaller kharif crop and market sources estimate that output may be up to 1 mln tn lower than a year ago, even if there is bountiful harvest in Telangana and Madhya Pradesh. So far in the kharif season, sowing of maize is down 6% on year, with south Indian states contributing a major portion of the deficit. India’s kharif maize output in 2017-18 (Jul-Jun) is likely to be down 1 mln tn from last year due to poor rains in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.