During the monitoring period, rice was the most important crop, followed by wheat. Rainfall reached 1263 mm, which was 15 mm lower than the 15-year average. The average temperature reached 28.8 °C, and the photosynthetically active radiation was 1298 MJ/m2 (4% higher than average). The national NDVI development curve shows that crop condition across the country was slightly higher than the 5-years average in April but below from mid-May to July. The spatial NDVI pattern shows that 38.8% of the crops were above than the 5-year average throughout the season. Other area were above average until mid-May when they adopted a downward trend. The best Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) ranged from 0.8 to 1, indicating good crop growth prospects in the whole country.

Regional Analysis

Bangladesh is divided into four agricultural sub-regions, including the coastal region, the Ganges region, the mountain region, and the Sylhet region.

The coastal areas precipitation reached 1028 mm, 27% lower than the average, and the temperature was 29.8°C, which was 0.2°C higher than the average. The cumulative photosynthetically active radiation value was 1364 MJ/m2, up 5%. With the decrease in precipitation, there was no potential biomass increase but the VCIx of  0.98 indicates that the crop grown was good.

Precipitation in the Ganges plain was 6% lower than the 15-years average,and the temperature was 0.2°C lower. Cumulative photosynthetically active radiation was 3% higher. During the monitoring period, VCIx reached 1.01, and the potential biomass increased by 6%, indicating that the crops were doing well.

Compared with the average, the Hills area had the highest precipitation in the four agro-ecological zones, (1665 mm, 16% lower than average), while the temperature and RADPAR were 0.4°C and 4% higher, respectively. The potential biomass and CALF were average. VCIx at 0.96 indicates a goo crop.

Sylhet region had the second highest precipitation  among all regions, which was 19% below average. The temperature was 28.2 °C (-0.1°C). The cumulative photosynthetically active radiation was 1290 MJ/m 2, up 6% compared to average. BIOMSS and CALF increased by 6% and 2%, respectively. Moreover, the optimal vegetation condition index was 0.99, indicating that the crop prospects are good.

Bangladesh’s crop condition, April‐July 2019.

(a). Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (c) Maximum VCI

(d) Rainfall Index                                             (e) Temperature Index 

(f) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA (g) NDVI profiles

(k) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Coastal Region (left) and Gangetic Region (right))

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

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

Bangladesh’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA (BIOMSS) or 5YA (CALF), April-July 2019