Kharif crops have been sown in around 885 lakh hectare till date as against 841 lakh hectare last year. <br/><br/>Crop sowing data released by the Agriculture Ministry, reveals that the rice has been sown in over 282 lakh hectare which is about six lakh hectare more than the last year. <br/><br/>Over 121 lakh hectare area has been covered under the cultivation of pulses which is more than 32 lakh hectare of the sown area under the crop last year.<br/><br/>The coarse cereals have been sown in over 163 lakh hectare, oilseeds in 167 lakh hectare and cotton in over 96 lakh hectare.