Maize acreage in Madhya Pradesh has jumped 23% this kharif season, partially compensating for sharp declines in Karnataka and Maharashtra where deficient rainfall has hampered sowing, according to Agriculture Ministry data. As of July 17, overall maize acreage stood at 67.89 lakh hectares (lh), down 5% from 71.5 lh in the corresponding period last year.
State-wise acreage shifts
Madhya Pradesh has sown maize on 23.37 lh as of July 17, up from 19 lh last year. In contrast, Karnataka saw a 30% acreage decline to 9.43 lh due to deficient rainfall, while Maharashtra recorded a 5.1% drop at 9.59 lh. Acreage also declined in Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, while Andhra Pradesh and Bihar registered marginal increases, as per the Ministry data.
| State | Acreage (lh) as of July 17, 2026 | Change vs. Last Year |
|---|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh | 23.37 | +23% |
| Karnataka | 9.43 | -30% |
| Maharashtra | 9.59 | -5.1% |
| Others | 25.5 | Mixed |
| Total | 67.89 | -5% |
Supply drivers: El Niño and farmer preferences
Rahul Chauhan of iGrain India attributed the acreage decline to the rainfall deficit caused by the El Niño effect, though maize continues to be a preferred crop because of attractive prices. He noted that with the sowing window narrowing in Karnataka and Maharashtra, matching last year's kharif maize production appears unlikely.
Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman of CLFMA of India, said: "The production of maize will be less as sowing has not taken place in some states due to the impact of El Nino. Also, as maize prices were lower than MSP last year, we expect a section of farmers to shift to soybean, prices of which are ruling high."
Demand side: Livestock feed sector faces challenges
Naveen Pasuparthy, Deputy Chairman of CLFMA of India and President of the Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association, described this as "a challenging year for the livestock feed sector" because maize sowing has been delayed and acreage is likely to be lower. He added that arrivals are expected to be delayed by about a month, to around December this year, due to the delayed sowing.
Pasuparthy also informed that 14 poultry associations across the country have jointly funded a digital survey of key crops such as maize and soybean to assess crop conditions and estimate production.
Ethanol sector sees limited impact
Sources in the ethanol sector, however, expressed confidence that the kharif maize crop is unlikely to be significantly affected because the crop requires relatively less water. They said the crop remains largely unaffected in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
Outlook
With the sowing window closing in Karnataka and Maharashtra, total kharif maize production will likely fall short of last year's levels, though Madhya Pradesh's strong acreage may cushion the decline. The livestock feed sector is bracing for higher prices and delayed arrivals, while ethanol buyers may find adequate supplies from unaffected states. Market participants will watch the progress of the digital survey by poultry associations for more granular production estimates.
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