The reporting period covers the wintering period of winter crops in southwestern China. According to the regional NDVI profile, crop conditions were generally below the 5-year average, but slightly above average in January.

On average, rainfall and radiation were below the 15-year average (RAIN -7%, RADPAR -8%). Temperature was close to average (TEMP -0.5 °C). The resulting BIOMSS was 20% below average mainly due to less rainfall and radiation. The cropped arable land fraction remained at the same level as in the last five years, which indicated there was no change in crop planting for this period.

According to the NDVI departure clustering map and the profiles, values were close to average in November, except in Chongqing and neighboring areas in north-western Guizhou. In January, the overall NDVI in the region was close to the average level. Rainfall and RADPAR were below average for Chongqing (-4% and -6% respectively), as well as for Guizhou (RAIN -21%, RADPAR -6%).  Average NDVI throughout the monitoring period was observed in eastern Sichuan and Yunnan, where radiation was below average and precipitation above average (See Annex A.11). The maximum VCI reached 0.92, indicating that peak conditions were comparable to the last five years. At the level of major production zones, the negative impact of below-average rainfall and increased cloud cover is expected to be limited. 

Conditions were mixed, but generally close to average. Some pockets suffered from low rainfall. The predominantly negative departures from the long-term average of NDVI indicate slightly below-average crop conditions. 

Figure 4.12 Crop condition Southwest China region, October 2020 - January 2021

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI     (c) NDVI profiles

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Potential biomass departure from 15YA

(f) Time series rainfall profile

(g) Time series temperature profile