Futures contracts of wheat on the NCDEX rose nearly 1% today as procurement of the grain by the government so far is 13% higher from a year ago. The government has so far procured 29.7 mln tn wheat for the 2018-19 (Apr-Mar) season, up from 26.2 mln tn a year ago. Procurement by the government creates a bullish sentiment as it means lower supplies in wholesale markets. Traders are also speculating that once the government reaches a comfortable level of wheat stocks, it will increase import duty on the grain from current 20%.