Kharif crops have been sown in around 954 lakh hectare till date as against 895 lakh hectare last year. Crop sowing data released by the Agriculture Ministry, reveals that the rice has been sown in over 326 lakh hectare which is about 22 lakh hectare more than the last year. Over 130 lakh hectare area has been covered under the cultivation of pulses which is more than 33 lakh hectare of the sown area under the crop last year.The coarse cereals have been sown in over 173 lakh hectare, oilseeds in 172 lakh hectare and cotton in over 99 lakh hectare.