During this monitoring period, the main rice was sown, and the harvest of the second rice was completed in June. Nationwide Thailand suffered a stressful period due to significantly below-average rainfall (RAIN, -23%), warm temperature (TEMP, +0.4°C), and increased sunshine (RADPAR, +8%). This led to a significant increase in  biomass production potential (BIOMSS up 8%) as sunshine is often limiting for irrigated crops. As shown in the profile of rainfall, the deficit of rainfall mostly occured in June and July. The NDVI development graph shows that crop condition was slightly below average.  According to the NDVI departure clustering map, 40.4 % of cropland was slightly above average mostly located in northern, central and eastern areas. 7.2% of cropped area mostly located in south (including Krabi, Trang, Satun, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani) was slightly below average except abnormal low values in June. Crop condition in rest of cropland in Thailand was slightly below average. Altogether, the crop condition is anticipated to be slightly below but close to average.

Regional analysis

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

The situation in the Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands follow the same patterns as those for the country as a whole: temperature (TEMP +0.6ºC) and radiation (RADPAR +6%) were above average, and accumulated rainfall was significantly below (RAIN -22%), nevertheless resulting in above average biomass production potential (BIOMSS +8%). According to the NDVI development graph, crop condition fluctuated around the 5-year average. Considering the favorable maximum VCIx value of 0.83, the situation is assessed as slightly below but close to average.

According to agro-climatic indicators for the South-eastern horticulture area, accumulated rainfall (RAIN -16%) was below average, while temperature (TEMP +0.4 ºC) and sunshine radiation (RADPAR +3%) were slightly above average, resulting in a slightly above-average biomass production potential (BIOMSS +4%). Crop condition was slightly below average but above average in the middle of May and June according to the NDVI development graph. Considering the favorable VCIx value of 0.94, the crop condition in this area was slightly below average. 

The Western and southern hill area suffered drier weather than the country as a whole. The rainfall significantly decreased by 34% compared with average, while temperature (TEMP +0.8ºC), radiation (RADPAR +8%) were above average, leading in a slightly above-average biomass production potential in Thailand (BIOMSS +6%).  Nonetheless, according to the NDVI development graph, the crop condition in this area was below average. Altogether, the situation in this area was unfavorable 

Indicators in the Single-cropped rice north-eastern region follow the same patterns as those for the country as a whole: temperature (TEMP +0.5ºC) and radiation (RADPAR +11%) were above average, and accumulated rainfall was significantly below (RAIN -14%), resulting in biomass production potential increase (BIOMSS +11%). According to a fair VCIx value of 0.88, the crop condition was slightly below but close to average, which is confirmed by the NDVI profiles and development graph.

At the national level, most arable land was cropped during the season and had favorable VCIx values around 0.89. CropWatch anticipates that crop condition was slightly below but close to average.

Figure 3.28a. Thailand phenology of major crops

Figure 3.28b. Thailand national level crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the April-July 2019 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.28c Time series rainfall pofile in Thailand

Figure 3.28d Time series temperature pofile in Thailand

Figure 3.28e. Thailand maximum VCI for April-July 2019 by pixel

Figure 3.28f. Thailand spatial NDVI patterns up to July2019 according to local cropping patterns and compared to the 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles (right)

Figure 3.28g Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands (Thailand) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.28h.Western and southern hill areas(Thailand)crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.28i. South-eastern horticulture area(Thailand) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure 3.28j. Single-cropped rice north-eastern region (Thailand) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Table 70. April-July 2019 agro-climatic indicators by agro-ecological region, current season values and departure from 15YA

 Table 71. April-July 2019agronomic indicators by agro-ecological region, current season values and departure from 15YA/5YA