Sowing of Kharif crops has picked up following good rainfall in the northern and Western parts of the country in the last few days. Crops sowing data released by the Agriculture Ministry reveals that the total area of over 563 lakh hectare has been covered till date as against 346 lakh hectare at this time last year. <br/><br/>Rice has been sown in over 132 lakh hectare which is about six lakh hectare more than the last year. About 56 lakh hectare area have been covered under the cultivation of pulses which is more than double of the sown area under the crop last year. The coarse cereals is in over 102.35 lakh hectare and oil seeds in 127 lakh hectare and cotton in 93 lakh hectare.