The reporting period covers the dormancy of winter wheat. According to the regional NDVI profile, crop condition was partly below average with a spell of above average values in early November.

Rainfall was below average (RAIN -18%) and sunshine was low (RADPAR -7%) while the temperature was slightly lower than the average by 0.5 °C. Compared to the average of the past 5 years, the cropped arable land fraction has not changed and the potential biomass production index was low (BIOMSS -7%).

According to the spatial NDVI patterns (profiles and maps) values were usually close to average from  late October to late November, except in Chongqing and neighboring areas in Eastern Guizhou. Both recorded very low NDVI due to low RAIN (-32% and -27%, respectively). The indicators of Sichuan Province were all below average but in Yunnan, both precipitation and sunshine were high (RAIN +50%, RADPAR +3%). The maximum VCI reaches at 0.93, indicating the crop growth status at peak of the growing season was still comparable with the previous five years.

The mix of positive and negative indicators show an overall unfavorable crop condition. 

Figure 4.17. Crop condition Southwest China region, October 2018 - January 2019

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA         (c) NDVI profiles

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Biomass