Kharif Crops sowing has picked up in different parts of the country in the last one week. <br/><br/>According to the data released by the Ministry of Agriculture, paddy has been sown in 72.3 lakh hectare as compare to 68.67 lakh hectare on this date last year, showing an increase of 3.6 lakh ha over the same period. Coarse cereals have been sown in 58.3 lakh hectare, about 5 lakh hectare more as compare to last year. <br/><br/>After a slow start, pulses sowing is also catching up, though it is still 18 thousand hectare less than this time last season.