The South and Southeast Asia MPZ covers a heterogeneous region.Rice is the dominant crop while wheat and maize are grown mostly in India andMyanmar. The analysis of agroclimatic and agronomic indicators during Januaryto April indicates slightly increased rainfall and PAR accumulation over boththe last five years and the thirteen-year average. In most countries,precipitation was close to the average, only slightly below average in Assam(during mid-April) and Sri Lanka. Temperature was significantly below average,especially in the center and north of India, the Red River delta of Vietnam,and Magwe in Myanmar. However, temperature continued to increase in March dueto the approaching summer season. The Indian Meteorological Department isclosely monitoring possible impacts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)event, which is likely to affect rice and sugarcane yields.

Maximum VCI values are high in Madhya Pradesh, where thehighest rainfall occurred. The biomass accumulation in the MPZ is the world’shighest increase (+14%) compared to the five-year average. The spatialdistribution of VHI profiles describes above average conditions in the centraland north of India, Magwe, and the dry zone of Myanmar, where the temperaturewas significantly below average. On average, the fraction cropped arable landdropped by 2 percentage points compared with the last five-year average,affecting mostly north Rajasthan and Karnataka.

Figure 2.4. South and SoutheastAsia MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, January-April 2014

            (i)   Profiles of VHI departure from average