This monitoring period covers the harvest of the main rice and the start of the second rice season. Temperature (TEMP +0.6℃) and radiation (RADPAR +10%) were above average, while the BIOMSS decreased 4%, due to low rainfall (RAIN, -43%). At the country level, crop conditions were slightly below the five-year average at the beginning of the monitoring period and kept gradually declining. NDVI departure profiles clustering shows that in 21.9% of the country crop condition was above average before mid-January. These patches mostly appear in the Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands and Western and southern hill areas. In almost half of the cropped area, the situation was close to average before the end of October, but dropped to below average for the rest of the monitoring period. In 11.3% of cultivated area, the crop condition was below average at the start of the monitoring period but recovered to close to average by the end of January. Altogether, considering the favorable VCIx value of 0.90, the crop conditions are assessed as slightly below average.

Regional analysis

The regional analysis below focuses on some of the above mentioned agro-ecological zones. They include Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands (176), South-eastern horticulture area (177), Western and southern hill areas (178), Single-cropped rice north-eastern region (179). The numbers correspond to the labels in the VCIx and NDVI profile maps.

Compared to average, Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands experienced sunnier and drier conditions. Temperature (TEMP +0.8℃) and radiation (RADPAR +8%) were above average accompanied by lower rainfall (RAIN -45%). All of these led to an average estimate for BIOMSS (BIOMSS +1%). The NDVI development graph shows that crop condition was slightly below the five-year average. This is confirmed by a fair VCIx value of 0.86. Overall, the situation was close to average.

Indicators for the South-eastern horticulture area follow the same patterns as those for the Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands: temperature (TEMP +0.5℃) and radiation (RADPAR 9%) were above average but accompanied with significantly lower rainfall (RAIN -46%), leading to an increase of biomass production potential (BIOMSS +8%). According to the NDVI development graph, however, the crop conditions were slightly below average during this monitoring period.

Crop conditions in the Western and southern hills were similar to other regions in the country: temperature (TEMP +0.3℃),  and radiation (RADPAR +11%) were above average, while the BIOMSS decreased by 2% mainly due to the significantly lower rainfall (RAIN -35%). According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions were below average. Overall, the situation was slightly below but close to average.

The rainfall  in the Single-cropped rice north-eastern region suffered the highest decline (-62%) among all regions, while the temperature (TEMP +0.8°C) and radiation (RADPAR +11%) were above.  BIOMSS (-12%) was estimated to be below average values, which was in agreement with below average NDVI values. 

At the national level, most arable lands were cropped during the season and had favorable VCIx values around 0.90. CropWatch projections are that the crop conditions during this monitoring period were slightly below average.

Figure 3.28a. Thailand phenology of major crops

Figure 3.28b. Time series temperature profile in Thailand

Figure 3.28c. Time series rainfall profile in Thailand

Figure 3.28d. Thailand national level crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the October 2019 to January 2020 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.28e. Thailand maximum VCI for October 2019 to January 2020 by pixel

Figure 3.28f. Thailand spatial NDVI patterns up to  January 2020 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. October 2019 to January 2020 agro-climatic indicators by agro-ecological region, current season values and departure from 15YA

 Table 71. October 2019 to January 2020 agronomic indicators by agro-ecological region, current season values and departure from 15YA/5YA