The Reporting period covers the full cycle of dry winter season rice (Boro) and wheat crops; both are irrigated. Although the period between January and April does not correspond to the monsoon the country nevertheless received 299 mm rainfall which is about 32% above average. The temperature at 24.2°C was just 0.3°C above average. The recorded RADPAR of 1174 MJ/m2 was lower than average by about 1%. Due to good growing environmental conditions CALF reached 97%; NDVI ranged between 0.45 and 0.65 and VCIx reached 1.03,  a record high. The avaliable information indicates very good prospects for the current Boro and wheat crops. The NDVI profile map indicates that the conditions were consistently above average in 10% of the crop land but well below throughout the whole reporting period in 4.5% of arable land. REmaing areas fluctuate around the average (below average until March).

Regional analysis

Bangladesh can be subdivided into four regions namely: the Coastal region, the Gangetic plain, the Hills and the Sylhet basin. The Coastal region received excessive rainfall (283 mm, +53% over average) and TEMPwas average at 25.3°C (-0.5°C). RADPAR reached 1206 MJ/m2 (-1%). The NDVI was initially low in January and February but rose in March and exceed the average in April; CALF at 87% and VCIx at 1.05 indicate good performance.

The Gangetic plains recorded 233 mm (RAIN +56% over average) and TEMP  was about average (+0.3°C) while RADPAR was 3% below. The NDVI was similar to the previous zone, starting low and exceeding the average in April. High CALF (97%) and VCIx at 1.05 with BIOMSS up 53% (against 15YA) indicate good prospects.

Sylhet Basin received the largest precipitation amount (393mm). TEMP was 0.4°C above the average and there is no difference between RADPAR average and 15Y average. The BIOMSS potential of 1041gDM/m2 (the highest for any region) is also 30% above the 15YA. NDVI was initially low but exceeded 0.6 in March and early April then decreased to average. With CALF  at 99% and VCIx of 0.90 (even higher than1.00 in large patches in the region), crop prospects are probably the most favorable in the country.

The Hills recorded 246mm (+21%), with marginally above average TEMP ( 24.5°C, an increase of 0.4°C) but favourable sunshine ( RADPAR of 661MJ/m2, +7%). NDVI was high in January, decreased to below average from January to February and increased to nearly the 5YA average from March to April. BIOMSS was above average (+7%), CALF as high as 96% and crop condition with good at 0.92 VCIx.

                                     (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 condition development 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))

Table 3.10. Bangladesh’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January-April 2019

Table 3.11. Bangladesh’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA and 5YA for BIOMSS and  CALF respectively, January-April 2019