Acreage of lentil in the ongoing rabi season was down by 20.6% on year at 680,900 ha. Area under lentil however, higher than the five-year average of 594,700 ha for the corresponding period. Total acreage of the legume crop was down mainly due to a sharp fall in area in the largest growing states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh had sown lentil across 251,400 ha, down 24.9% on year, and those in Madhya Pradesh had sown it across 384,000 ha, 13.9% lower on year.