South and Southeast Asia includes India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. The main crops are maize, rice, wheat and soybean. In general, agroclimatic and agronomic variables demonstrated favorable conditions for rainfall (+10%) and temperature (+0.1°C), whereas RADPAR (-5%) and BIOMSS (-15%) were below the 15YA. CALF was above the 5YA (+2%). VCIx was 0.9. Above-average precipitation helped replenish soil moisture and thus benefited the growth of winter crops.

During the monitoring period, significant spatio-temporal differences in precipitation between the countries were observed. 78.7% of the region received close-to-average rainfall, including most of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, southern Myanmar and southern Vietnam. Rainfall in 11.1% of the region (mainly located in most of Vietnam and eastern Thailand) was significantly above average in October and was near average in November, December and January. Other areas showed a pattern with positive and negative departures from the average. Temperature in the whole MPZ was close to average and had light fluctuations. Meanwhile, the spatial distribution of temperature profiles indicates that a warm spell swept across Bangladesh and Myanmar in early to mid-January and a cold spell swept across Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos in early to mid-January.

CALF in this MPZ reached 97%, and uncultivated areas were mainly located in a small part of north Rajasthan, east Bangladesh and south Vietnam. BIOMSS showed strong anomalies in north India, southeast India, Myanmar, Thailand, mid Laos and mid Vietnam. Positive anomalies were mostly observed in the west and southwest of India. The VHI minimum map shows that north and central India, regions in Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia were most affected by periods of drought conditions.

In summary, the results of CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators during the monitoring period demonstrated that, though there was abundant precipitation in the MPZ, the decreased RADPAR cumulatively affected the crops, resulting in a below-average BIOMSS. However, the impact on yield is limited, as most winter crops will reach the grain-filling phase during the next monitoring period only. In conclusion, the growth conditions of winter crops of this MPZ are near average and normal production levels can be expected.

Figure 2.4 South and Southeast Asia MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, October 2020-January 2021.

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles 

b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles

d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (℃)

e. Maximum VCI

f. Cropped arable land

g. Biomass accumulation potential departure

h. VHI Minimum

Note: See note for Table 2.1, with reference value R defined as the five-year average (5YA) for the same period (October-January) for 2016-2020.