The total sowing area of Kharif crops in the state this time increased by 14 lakh hectares to 138.40 lakh hectares, which is 11% more than last year's 124.39 lakh hectares. This figure is 20% more than the state's general average (average of last 5 years) of 115.20 lakh hectares. Paddy (including Basmati) sowing has increased by 13.5% to 71.05 lakh hectares, which is one of the highest increases in the country. The total sowing of paddy in the country has increased by 4.7% so far. There has been a slight decline in sugarcane sowing, which has come down from 27.25 lakh hectares last year to 27.05 lakh hectares this time. At the same time, sowing of millet has increased by a huge 34% to 11.11 lakh hectares, maize has increased by 5.8% to 8.20 lakh hectares and sorghum has increased by 15.3% to 3.09 lakh hectares. Sowing of pigeon pea (tuar) has increased by 5% to 3.79 lakh hectares, black gram has increased by 1.3% to 4.63 lakh hectares, peanuts have increased by 32.3% to 3.56 lakh hectares and sesame has increased by 24.4% to 4.39 lakh hectares.