THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is considering changes to its cropping calendar to increase farm yields and reduce rice imports.

The agency said it was planning to implement two cropping periods during the dry season, instead of just one, in addition to that for the wet season.

"The first one will be from October to January and other one will be from February to May. This is seen to reduce potential crop damages of typhoon during wet season," the NIA said in a statement released during the weekend.

To ensure sufficient rice supply, the NIA said that each hectare should yield an average of five metric tons (MT) of palay (unmilled rice). The current average is 4.1 MT.

The Philippines imported 3.22 million MT of rice from last year, equivalent to about five million MT of palay.

Acting NIA administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen said the agency would accelerate the execution of current and upcoming irrigation projects and promote the use of high-yielding varieties to increase domestic rice production.

"The six million MT palay production target is attainable because hybrid planting produces an average of eight million MT of palay," he added.

Last week, the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, and the NIA signed an agreement aimed at strengthening the domestic rice supply chain.

The memorandum of understanding seeks to establish alternative ways for rice buyers and sellers to access supply and also boost farmer incomes.

"NIA remains confident that the country would increase the marketability of rice products while ensuring greater income for the Filipino farmers," the agency said.

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