During the reporting period, the sowing of the main rice crop (Aman) started in June. Boro (winter) rice harvest ended in May and Aus rice harvest was mostly completed in July. Wheat harvest was completed in April. Rainfall was below average (-7%), TEMP was higher (+0.4℃) and RADPAR was close to the 15-year average. The potential biomass decreased by 5%. The national NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions across the country were lower than the 5-year average during the whole monitoring period. They started to recover at the end of this period. The spatial NDVI pattern shows that 30.2% of the cultivated area was close to average, mainly distributed in Sylhet basin. 51.1% had a big drop in June and recovered to below-average levels in July in Coastal region and Hills and 18.7% had a big drop in July dispersed over the country. These drops might have been due to cloud cover in the satellite images. The maximum Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) was 0.90, with most areas higher than 0.8 and CALF was the same as the 5-year average (96%).  Conditions for the main rice crop (Aman) which was planted in June and July are favorable, due to sufficient rainfall during those months. Overall, the crop conditions in most parts of Bangladesh were near average. 

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 TEMP were above average (+12% and +0.2°C, respectively) while RADPAR was below average (-2%). The crop condition development graph based on NDVI shows that crop conditions were below but near the 5-year average from April to July. CALF was at 85% and VCIx at 0.84. BIOMSS was lower than average by 9%. Conditions were below average.

The Gangetic plains received the least precipitation amount of 1188 mm (10% below average). Both TEMP and RADPAR was above average (+0.3°C and +1%). The crop condition development graph based on NDVI shows crop conditions were close to the 5-year average at the end of May and then dropped sharply. During the monitoring period, CALF (97%) was the same as average and VCIx (0.91) indicated average prospects, but the below-average BIOMSS (-3%) indicated slightly unfavorable crop conditions.

In the Hills, rainfall was 5% below average. TEMP was above average (+0.3°C) and RADPAR was close to average. The crop condition started recovering from June and reached close to average levels at the end of the July, as shown by the NDVI development profiles. But the unfavorable condition before July resulted in a below-average BIOMSS (-9%). CALF (96%) was the same as average and VCIx (0.88) indicate average crop prospects.

The Sylhet Basin experienced the largest drop in rainfall (-14%). TEMP was 0.7°C above average and RADPAR was 1% above. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI shows that crop conditions were below average in the reporting period and they increased to average levels only at the end of July. The BIOMSS was near average and a high CALF at 99% and VCIx of 0.93 indicated average crop conditions.

Figure 3.9 Bangladesh's crop condition, April - July 2021

(a). Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(c)  Maximum VCI

(d) Rainfall Index

(e) Temperature Index

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

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Coastal Region (left) and Gangetic Region (right))

(l) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI(Hill Region (left) and Sylhet Basin (right))

Table 3.9 Bangladesh's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April 2021-July 2021

Table 3.10 Bangladesh's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, April 2021-July 2021