Sorghum acreage decreased, but maize and barley acreage increased

23-Dec-2025 08:33 PM

New Delhi: Compared to last year, the domestic area under coarse grains during the current Rabi season, as of December 19, 2025, increased by 61,000 hectares, from 45.05 lakh hectares to 45.66 lakh hectares.

However, this is still significantly lower than the normal average area of ​​55.33 lakh hectares. Last year, a total of 59.05 lakh hectares were cultivated under coarse grains/millets.

Compared to last year, sorghum sowing is lagging, but the area under maize, barley, and ragi is ahead. Bajra sowing has been done in only 11,000 hectares, which is the same as last year.

According to official figures, in the 2025 Rabi season, compared to 2024, the area under sorghum decreased from 21.39 lakh hectares to 19.62 lakh hectares, but the area under ragi increased from 48,000 hectares to 68,000 hectares,

the area under maize jumped from 16.90 lakh hectares to 18.34 lakh hectares, and the area under barley increased from 6.08 lakh hectares to 6.78 lakh hectares.

The area under barley has already surpassed the normal average area, but the area under sorghum and maize is still lagging.

Sowing of coarse grains is still underway in the major producing states, so further improvement in the area is expected.