The growing and harvesting of Aman rice and sowing of irrigated dry season Boro rice and wheat were the main farming activities during the reporting period. The CropWatch indicators and overall crop condition were close to average except in January when they were lower than average. The country recorded 153 mm of RAIN, which is significantly below the average by 37 %. Temperature (22.4°C) was just below the average (-0.2°C), while sunshine was average. The overall biomass accumulation potential (BIOMSS) dropped 17% below the five-year average, while the crop arable land fraction(CALF) was close to average. The national NDVI profile was above the recent 5-year average in October, but from November to January, it stayed below the average curve.

In the Sylhet Division, the spatial NDVI profile remained above the average during October but fell below from November. In the other Divisions, the spatial NDVI profile remained below the average during the monitoring period. Over the whole country, the maximum VCI mostly ranged from 0.8 to 1, indicating good crop condition.

Regional analysis

Bangladesh includes four Agro-ecological zones (AEZ) referred to hereafter as Coastal region, Gangetic plain, the Hills and the Sylhet basin.

The Coastal region recorded 262mm of RAIN, 11% below average and TEMP and RADPAR were average at 23.2°C and 1036MJ/m2, respectively. BIOMASS exceeded the 5YA by 2%. The CALF value was average, and VCIx at 0.9 generally indicates good crop condition. 

The Gangetic plain received low rainfall (73mm,64% below average), TEMP stayed average (22.2°C) and RADPAR was up 2 %. The CALF was average. With VCIx at 0.9 and BIOMASS 36% below the 5YA, a drop in production below the average can be expected.

The precipitation in the Hills amounted to 401 mm (9% higher than average). TEMP was cooler by -0.9°C and RADPAR was just below (1% below). The BIOMASS reached 917 gDM/m2 and was 18 % above the 5YA. The CALF did not change relative to the 5YA, and VCIx was as high as 0.9, which indicates good crop condition.

The Sylhet basin recorded 86 mm, 61% below average, with average TEMP at 22.3°C and slightly above average RADPAR (976 MJ/m2 or +1%). The BIOMASS was beneath the average (-30%), but the CALF increased 7% above the 5YA, with the VCIx value at 0.9. 

Figure 3.10 Bangladesh’s crop condition, October 2018 – January 2019. 

(a). Phenology of major crops 

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI 

(c) Maximum VCI 

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA      (e) NDVI profiles 

(f) Crop conditiondevelopment graph based on NDVI (Coastal Region (left) and Gangetic Region(right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Hill Region (left) and Sylhet Basin (right))

Table3.13. Bangladesh’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, currentseason's values and departure from 15YA October 2018 – January 2019.

Table3.14. Bangladesh’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, October 2018 – January 2019.