Egypt has planted 2.750 million acres of wheat since the start of the current season in mid-November, an agriculture ministry official told Reuters on Wednesday.

The world’s largest grain importer will reach its target of 3.5 million acres of wheat (1.47 million hectares) and finish the current season by the end of December, said Abbas al-Shennawi, head of the ministry’s services and follow-up sector.

Wheat plantation will continue after December in some rainy areas, he added.

Egypt said in October that it aims to plant 3.5 million acres of wheat in the current season, up from around 3.16 million acres last season.

The North African country harvested 8.5 million tonnes of domestic wheat last season.