Area under maize in India was 0.2% higher on year at 7.9 mln ha. Maize acreage in the country was higher than the normal area of 7.4 mln ha for the season, which is based on the average of last five years. Sowing was higher on year in key growing states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, while it was down in Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Haryana. Acreage was higher in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka despite reports of armyworm pest attack in some pockets of these states. The India Meteorological Department had given timely advisories to maize growers in these states to curb the spread of pest attack.