The planting of the second rice crop started in early January, while the harvest of the main rice has been completed. During this monitoring period,  temperature (TEMP +0.5℃),  rainfall (RAIN +10%) and radiation (RADPAR +4%) were above average, which led to a 20% increase in BIOMSS. Nationwide, crop condition was slightly below average as shown in NDVI development graph. NDVI departure profiles clustering shows that in 22.6% of the country crop condition was below average before December but it recovered later as the second rice crop was planted. This applies to the center of Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands and the south of Western and southern hill areas. In the North-eastern single-cropped rice region, which represents 48.8% of arable lands in Thailand, crop condition was slightly below average. Crop condition was persistently below average in 22.8% of arable land, mostly in the form of patches occurring throughout the country). Altogether, considering the favorable VCIx value of 0.84, the crop condition is assessed as average.

Regional analysis

The regional analysis below focuses on some of the already mentioned agro-ecological zones of Thailand, of which some are mostly defined by the rice cultivation typology. Agro-ecological zones include Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands(115), South-eastern horticulture area(116), Western and southern hill areas(117), Single-cropped rice north-eastern region(118). The numbers correspond to the labels in the VCIx and NDVI profile maps.

Compared with average, the rainfall in the Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands  was virtually average (RAIN -2%) while temperature was above average (TEMP, +0.6℃) with average sunshine (RADPAR 0%). The biomass production potential increased 22%. The NDVI development graph shows that crop condition was slightly below the five-year average but close to last year’s. This is confirmed by a fair VCIx value of 0.85. Overall, the situation was slightly below average.

Indicators for the South-eastern horticulture area follow the same patterns as those for the country as a whole: rainfall (RAIN, 2%) and radiation (RADPAR +4%), temperature (TEMP, +0.3℃) were above average, resulting in the biomass production potential increase in Thailand (BIOMSS +21%) compared with the 5-year average. According to the NDVI development graph, however, the crop condition was slightly below average during this monitoring period.

Crop condition in the Western and southern hills areas was favorable and, again, followed the weather patterns as the whole country: RAIN +16%, TEMP +0.2°C, RADPAR +2%, and BIOMSS +23% when compared to their respective averages. According to the NDVI development graph, crop condition was close to average. Overall, the situation was close to average.

Unlike the country as a whole, the rainfall in the Single-cropped rice north-eastern region was virtually average while the temperature (TEMP +0.8°C) and radiation (RADPAR +7%) were above.  BIOMSS (+10%) shows above average values. The NDVI development graph shows that crop condition was slightly below average.

At the national level, most arable lands was cropped during the season and had favorable VCIx values around 0.84. CropWatch projections are that the crop condition during this monitoring period was slightly below average.

Figure 3.28a. Thailand phenology of major crops

Figure 3.28b. Thailand national level crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the July-October 2018 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.28c. Thailand maximum VCI for July-October 2018 by pixel

Figure 3.28d. Thailand spatial NDVIpatterns up to October 2018 according to local cropping patterns and compared to the 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles (right)

Figure 3.28f.Double_triple-cropped rice area (Thailand) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.28g. Mountains area(Thailand)crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.28h. Horticulture area(Thailand) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.28i. Single-cropped rice area (Thailand) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Table 70. October 2018 to January 2019 agro-climaticindicators by agro-ecological region, current season values and departurefrom15YA

 Table 71. October 2018 to January2019 agronomic indicators by by agro-ecological region, current season valuesand departure from 5YA