This reporting period covers the early sowing of main maize and main rice, the growth and early harvesting of secondary maize and the harvesting of secondary rice in the Philippines. As the national NDVI profile shows, it was close to average throughout the monitoring period.  All in all, the crop conditions for the country were stable and close to average.

Nationwide, this country suffered a great precipitation deficit (RAIN, -46%) compared to 15YA. However, the temperature (TEMP, +0.3℃) and radiation (RADPAR, +6%) for the country were higher than average, resulting in an above-average potential biomass production (BIOMASS, +3%). The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) for the country was almost 100% and the national maximum VCI value was at 0.95.

Considering the spatial patterns of NDVI profiles, about 4% of crop land, mainly around Davao city, Mindanao island, had a lower NDVI, which dropped up to 0.45 NDVI units from late January to the middle of February, and recovered in the middle of March, as compared to average. This drop is presumably due to cloud cover in the satellite images or smog. A similar anomaly was observed for another 6.5% of the crop land, mainly located in the east of Vigan and Baguio, Luzon island. Around 89.5% of crop land had a stable NDVI, which is close to the average. According to maximum VCI graph, most parts of the country had a high maximum VCI value (VCIX > 0.8), which means the prospects for second maize and second rice will be favorable.

Regional analysis

Based on the cropping systems, climatic zones and topographic conditions, three main agro-ecological regions can be distinguished for the Philippines. They are the Lowlands region (northern islands), the Hilly region (Island of Bohol, Sebu and Negros), and the Forest region (mostly southern and western islands). All the regions had a stable (unchanged) cropped arable land fraction and a high maximum VCI value (VCIx>0.94), which shows a favorable production of second maize and second rice.

The Lowlands region shared an average temperature (TEMP +0.2℃) and above-average RADPAR (+5%), however, the rainfall (RAIN -38%) for the region was less than average. The potential biomass production (BIOMASS) for the region was close to the average of the previous 5 years. The regional maximum VCI value (VCIx) was at 0.94. As the NDVI profile shows, the NDVI for the region was close to average the whole reporting period except for early January and early April, when it had a lower NDVI than the 5YA.

The Negros and central Visayas Islands region had a great rainfall deficit (RAIN -53%), relatively higher temperature (TEMP +0.5℃) and above-average radiation (RADPAR +8%). The potential biomass production (BIOMASS, +6%) for the region was higher than the 5YA. The regional maximum VCI value (VCIx) was at 0.96. According to the NDVI profile, the NDVI for the region was less than average in early February and in late April. From the middle of March to early April, the NDVI was about average. At other times, the regional NDVI was slightly higher than the 5YA.

The Forest region experienced a great rainfall deficit (RAIN -49%), slightly above average temperature (TEMP +0.4°C) and above-average radiation (RADPAR +8%). The potential biomass production there was above average by 5% (BIOMASS +5%) and the maximum VCI index was at 0.95, which shows a great crop production. According to the NDVI profile, the regional NDVI was close to average in January and less than average in early February. After that, it was close to average from the middle of February to the middle of April and it was less than the average of the past 5 years in late April.

Philippines' crop condition, January - April, 2020

(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) Time series temperature profile (left) and rainfall profile (right)

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Lowlands region (left) and Hills region (right))

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Forest Region)

Philippines' agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January - April 2020

Philippines' agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA/5YA, January - April, 2020