<span style="color: #222222;">Around 59 lakh hectare more sowing area coverage has been reported under kharif crops in comparison to last year. The Agriculture Ministry in a statement said, a record progress of area coverage has been reported under Kharif crops. <br />''<br />''The  coverage is 1104.54 lakh hectare area as compared to corresponding period of last year of 1045.18 lakh hectare. Rice has been sown in over 402  lakh hectare  as compared to around  374 lakh hectare  during the corresponding period of last year. Thus the area coverage was increased by 7.59 per cent.<br />'' <br />'' The Ministry said, sowing of Pulses  has been reported  137.87 lakh hectare against 131.76 lakh hectare area of last year. Coverage of Coarse Cereals was reported 179.70 lakh hectare area against 177.43 lakh hectare of  last year. The sowing of Oilseeds is around 196  lakh hectare area as against about 177 lakh hectare last year .<br />'' <br />''<br />''The Ministry said, there is no impact of COVID-19 on progress of area coverage under kharif crops as on date. The Ministry of Agriculture and State Governments have put all efforts in successful implementation of mission programs and flagship schemes.</span>