The government wrapped up wheat procurement programme for the current calendar year on Sunday with 13 per cent shortfall of the target.

Earlier, the government had targeted to procure 0.15 million tonnes of wheat for the year 2013. The procurement price of wheat was fixed at Tk 25 per kg. The procurement drive began on March last and expired on June 30, 2013.

"We have procured 1, 30,000 tonnes of wheat, which is about 87 per cent of the target," Director (Procurement) of the Directorate of Food Md Badrul Hasan told the FE Sunday.

Last year, the government had fulfilled the target to procure 0.1 million tonnes of wheat.

Asked about not achieving the target during the current calendar year, the food official said though the target was not fulfilled, it procured more 30,000 tonnes of wheat than the previous year's target.

He said the country is heavily dependent on import of wheat for meeting its internal demand.

Wheat procurement by the government for the current calendar year is satisfactory considering the local production, he added.

The average annual production of wheat in the country is 1.0 million tonnes against the total demand of 3.5 million tonnes.

At present, the country has 2,50,000 tonnes of wheat at the public silos and warehouses. The government has signed contracts for importing more 3,00,000 tonnes of wheat, according to the Directorate of Food.