This monitoring period covers the dry spring and wet summer season in Mongolia from April to July. Wheat, which is the main cereal crop, is sown in early May.

The agroclimatic indicators for this 4 month period show a large increase in rainfall (RAIN, +93%), slight incrase in temperature (TEMP, +0.1ºC) and a decrease in radiation (RADPAR, ‐5%). The decline in solar radiation caused a reduction in estimated biomass by 7% as compared to the 15YA. The recorded crop arable land fractions (CALF, 0.98-1.00) and maximum vegetation condition index (VCIx, 0.83-0.94) were favorable. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI for the entire country indicates that crop conditions were close to the average of the past five years from April to June and surpassed the average in July. 

The maximum VCIx map shows that relatively poor crop conditions (around 40%) were observed in the west of the Selenge-Onon region, and the middle and southern part of the Hangai Khuvsgul region. The eastern part of Selenge-Onon had favorable conditions and the northern part of Hangai Huvsgul slightly less favorable conditions. However, the conditions for almost all of the arable land improved at the end of June. Generally, crop conditions can be assessed as  favorable in Mongolia.

Regional Analysis

Taking into consideration the climate, vegetation, altitude, soil, and farming systems, Mongolia is divided into five (5) agro‐ecological zones (AEZ). Three of them (Selenge-Onon Region, Central, and Eastern Steppe, and Hangai Khuvsgul Region) are cultivated as cropland, and two (Altai and Gobi Desert) are non-agriculture land. 

In the Selene-Onon region, RAIN was 107% above average, but temperature and radiation were below average (TEMP -0.1 ºC; RADPAR  -0.6%). Estimated BIOMSS decreased by 9%, and the cropped arable land fraction was up by 4%. The maximum VCIx for this region was 0.94. The crop condition development graph indicates that the crop conditions gradually improved overtime and surpassed the 5YA in June and reached record levels in July.

RAIN and TEMP in the Hangai Khuvsgul region increased by 72% and 0.5% respectively, while the RADPAR was slightly lower (-2%). Accordingly, BIOMASS declined by 2% from the fifteen-year average. VCIx (0.83) was just average, and CALF was elevated by 1%. Even though most of the agroclimatic indicators show favorable conditions, the overall conditions were below average in this region based on the NDVI profile, as it stayed below the 5YA. However, conditions were more favorable in the northern part of this region.

For the first three months, crop conditions were below the five-year average, but improved in July in the Central and Eastern Steppe region. This region also received above-average rainfall (RAIN, +88%). Temperatures  (TEMP ‐0.1ºC) and radiation (RADPAR -7%) were below average.  CALF increased by 2%, and regional VCIx was 0.90. Estimated BIOMSS decreased by 8%. The Central and Eastern Steppe region has only a small fraction of cropland.  Most of it experienced slightly unfavorable conditions between April and June, but the situation improved in July.

Figure 3.31 Mongolia’s crop condition, April - July 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) Rainfall profiles                                                                                                                              

(g) Temperature profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Hangai Khuvsgul Region (left) and Selenge-Onon Region (right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Central and Eastern Steppe Region)

Table 3.53 Mongolia’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April – July 2020

Table 3.54 Mongolia’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, April – July 2020