Maize futures on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange ended lower as traders booked profits after a rise in the last two sessions. The most-active August maize contract on NCDEX ended at 1,175 rupees per 100 kg, down 0.8% from the previous close. Prices of maize have remained subdued in the last one month due to poor demand and high inventories from the kharif crop. Subdued prices of the coarse grain have also been keeping farmers away from taking up its cultivation this kharif season. As of last week, acreage of kharif maize was down 22.6% on year at 491,000 ha.