The reporting period covers the sowing of winter wheat in southwestern China, at a time when summer crops (including semi-late rice and maize) have reached maturity. According to the regional NDVI profile, crop condition was generally below the 5-year average, but close to average in late-August and October.

On average, rainfall remained at the same level as the previous fifteen years and radiation was slightly below average (RADPAR -1%). Temperature was close to average as well (TEMP + 0.1 °C). The resulting BIOMSS was 7% below average. Even the cropped arable land fraction remained at the same level as the previous five years.

According to the spatial NDVI profiles, values were close to average in July, except in Northern Yunnan and neighboring areas in south-eastern Guizhou. In mid-August, the overall NDVI in the region was close to the average level. In eastern Sichuan, NDVI was below average in September and October. Average NDVI throughout the monitoring period was observed in Chongqing, in spite of both precipitation and radiation being significantly above average (See Annex A.11). The maximum VCI reached 0.97 at the peak of the growing season. The value is comparable with the previous five years.

The mixture of positive and negative departures of indicators show generally unfavorable crop condition.

Figure 4.12 Crop condition Southwest China region, July - October 2019

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI     (c) NDVI profiles

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Biomass departure