The main crops in Syria include Barley and Wheat. During this reporting period, barley and wheat reached their flowering and grainfilling stages. The agro-climatic indicators during the current period were unfavorable. Rainfall was less than average (RAIN -19%), temperature was higher (TEMP +0.8°C), and the solar radiation was above the average of last 15 years (RADPAR +2%). As a result, the climate based potential biomass was below average (BIOMSS -6%). The VCIx was 0.48 and CALF was 35%, which was a drop by 30%. The VCI map also shows that the crop condition in Syria were not good. Above-average conditions were observed in the south-western mountain areas. The NDVI graph shows that the crops were close to average from January to February and far below the 5YA thereafter. 

In summary, the crop conditions in Syria were generally unfavorable and a poor grain harvest is to be expected.

Figure 1. Syria crop condition, January 2021 – April 2021

(a) Phenology of major crops

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

(i)Time series rainfall profile and temperature profile