Maize futures on the NCDEX ended over 1% higher today as kharif sowing of the crop was lagging on year. Farmers in the country have sown kharif maize across 7.57 mln ha as of 11 August, down 6.4% on year. Monsoon rains in south peninsula have been 16% below normal so far at 389.8 mm. Consequently, sowing of kharif maize has been lagging in major producers for the season Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.