ARTICLE 2 #Food Security

Maize Takes the Spotlight in India’s Kharif Season as Sowing Nears Finish Line New Delhi, India — As the Kharif sowing season edges closer to completion, maize has emerged as a standout performer, outperforming several other crops. Total area under Kharif crops is showing a modest uptick of about 1%, reflecting cautious optimism among farmers and officials.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 128.8 points in September, down from 129.7 in August — a 0.7 % drop month‑on‑month. Though it dipped in September, the index is still 3.4 % higher than a year ago, but remains ~19.6 % below its March 2022 peak.