Kharif crops have been sown in 791.34 lakh hectare till date as against 765.79 lakh hectare last year. It is 25.5 lakh hectare more than last year figure. Crop sowing data released by the Agriculture Ministry, reveals that the rice has been sown in over 216 lakh hectare which is about 5 lakh hectare more than the last year. <br/><br/>Over 114 lakh hectare area has been covered under the cultivation of pulses which is more than 7 lakh hectare of the sown area under the crop last year.<br/>The coarse cereals have been sown in nearly 150 lakh hectare, oilseeds in over 142 lakh hectare and cotton in 111.55 lakh hectare.