As shown by the national NDVI development graphs, no winter crops are normally cultivated in Kazakhstan from January to early April; spring crops got into the sowing and vegetative stages from late April.

During the reporting period, rainfall was above average by 28 percent,  temperature was above average(+3⁰C) , PAR accumulation was 7% lower than average, which led to large potential biomass increase of 27% compared to the recent five years. Spatial NDVI patterns compared to last five years and NDVI profiles indicated that almost the whole country experienced favorable crops especially in April, which is confirmed by the  national NDVI development graphs: late of April crop condition was above average. 

However, due to high rainfall, current values of VCIx are generally about average, but more favourable in some northern (Seveo kazachstanskaya, Akmolinskaya and Pavlodarskaya ) as well as southern areas (Jambylslkaya, Almatinskaya). Due to stored soil moisture, crop prospects are rather good for the coming cropping period.

Figure 3.18. Kazakhstancrop 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