The reporting period covers the growing and harvesting season of winter rice. Due to El Niño-related drought, the rainfall deficit was -24% across the country, and -33% in the central plain. The temperature (-0.6C) and RADPAR were about. The projected biomass accumulation potential was 26% below to the last five years average. Even if cultivated land increased (CALF 1% above the last five years' average), the crop condition development was below to the previous years average as well as to the last five years’ value. The maximum VCI value for the country was 0.78. Poor maximum VCI below 0.5 occurred in central Mandalay and some parts of Mawlamyaing, pointing at poor crop condition. Spatial NDVI profiles are mostly positive (above average) or above average until March, but they dropped to below average in April in about 18.4% of the country, mostly in the center. As per CropWatch indicators, the overall crop condition is poor.

Figure 3.21. Myanmar cropcondition, January-April2016

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

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