The area under the paddy crop across the country this kharif season was at 26.27 mln ha as of Thursday, down 4.2% on year. The area under paddy was also below the average of 26.93 mln ha for the period. Though paddy sowing in the country was lower on year, the lag in acreage has reduced from over 12% a week ago. The fall in acreage can be attributed to lower sowing in top producers Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Weak monsoon rains in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh also contributed to the fall in acreage.