The area under kharif bajra across the country for 2017-18 (Jul-Jun) as of Thursday was at 1,000 hectares, unchanged on year. Bajra sowing has started only in Tamil Nadu so far and is likely to rise with the onset of southwest monsoon over the country. Maharashtra has aimed 2017-18 kharif bajra area at 1.1 million hectares against 845,000 hectares last year, however, bajra sowing has not started in the major producing state so far.