Kharif crops have been sown in 685.31 lakh hectare till date as against 673.41 lakh hectare last year. It is nearly 12 lakh hectare more than last year figure. Crop sowing data released by the Agriculture Ministry, reveals that the rice has been sown in over 177 lakh hectare which is about 8 lakh hectare more than the last year. Over 93 lakh hectare area has been covered under the cultivation of pulses which is more than 3 lakh hectare of the sown area under the crop last year.The coarse cereals have been sown in nearly 131 lakh hectare, oilseeds in over 123 lakh hectare and cotton in 104.29 lakh hectare.