During this monitoring period, rice was the most important crop, followed by wheat. Rainfall was above average by 14%. The average temperature was a bit lower (-0.6°C) and the photosynthetically active radiation was 1248 MJ/m2 (1% lower than average). The national NDVI development curve shows that crop conditions across the country were slightly better than the 5-year average in April and May, but dropped to below-average levels thereafter due to widespread flooding. The spatial NDVI pattern shows that 30.7% of the crops were above the 5-year average throughout the season, dispersed over the country but concentrated in the lower Ganges River and Chittagong. The best Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) ranged from 0.8 to 1, indicating good crop growth prospects in the whole country, and the national VCIx value was 0.94, with most areas higher than 0.8. However, the floods in June and July caused wide-spread crop damage or delayed planting of a man rice. 

Regional analysis

Bangladesh can be divided into four Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ): Coastal region, the Gangetic plain, the Hills, and the Sylhet basin.

In the Coastal region, both RAIN and RADPAR were above average (+8% and +2%, respectively). Temperature was below average (-0.6°C). The crop condition development graph based on NDVI shows that crop conditions were close to the 5-year average from April to May and then below average. CALF was at 90% and VCIx at 0.97, with BIOMSS up 4% (the highest for any region), which indicate average conditions.

The Gangetic plains received the largest precipitation amount (+38% above average). Temperature was below average (-0.9°C) and RADPAR was 2% below. The NDVI was similar to the Coastal region, starting close to average and exceeding the average in May, but then dropping sharply. During the monitoring period, high CALF (98%) and VCIx at 0.97 indicated good prospects. But the sharp drop in NDVI in June and July indicates that conditions are generally unfavorable.

In the Hills, rainfall was 12% above the average, with a below-average TEMP (-0.4°C) and favourable sunshine (RADPAR +1%). The crop condition development graph based on NDVI shows that crop condition was close to, but below average during the whole monitoring period. BIOMSS was below average (-3%), CALF was 95% and VCIx was 0.95, indicating unsatisfactory crop conditions.

In the Sylhet Basin, rainfall was above average by 11%. TEMP was 0.5°C below the average and RADPAR was 2% below. The BIOMSS potential of 817 g DM/m2 was also 2% below the 5YA, with CALF at 99% and VCIx of 0.97. Widespread flooding in June and July caused unfavorable crop conditions.

Figure 3.9 Bangladesh’s crop condition, April - July 2020

(a). Phenology of major crops

(f) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA              (g) NDVI profiles

Table 3.9 Bangladesh’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2020

Table 3.table 3.10  Bangladesh’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, April- July 2020