The CropWatch indicators show average crop condition during the reporting period. The monitoring period is the growing and harvesting season of irrigated boro rice. Rainfall was 23% higher than last 14 years’ average. Temperature was average, photosynthetically active radiation was slightly low (-4%) and biomass accumulation was 3% higher than last five years’ average. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) increased by 1%. Crop condition development, as assessed by national NDVI was below both the previous five years’ average and 2015. The recorded maximum VCI value was 0.74. The ranges of the maximum VCI values were between 0.5 to 1 indicating average crop condition for the entire country. However, VCIx values below 0.5 were noticed in Chittagong, western Rajshahi and northern Khulna, indicating poor crop condition in these areas. In Rangpur, Rajshahi and Dhaka the NDVI profiles dropped after early February, recovered in mid-March only to drop again in mid-April. On the contrary, other region’s NDVI profiles steadily progressed until early April and started dropping thereafter. Overall, average output is expected for boro rice.

Figure 3.7. Bangladesh crop condition,January-April 2016

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

c)Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                            (d)NDVI profiles