The crops in the Philippines generally showedaverage conditions between August and October (VCIx is 0.89) although thebiomass decreased by 11% compared to the most recent five years. Harvesting ofthe main season paddy crop is currently underway.  Soil moisture isplenty, and conducive to the sowing of the secondary season crop. As illustratedby above average indices for rainfall (+2%) and PAR (+4%), the secondary seasonmaize and rice planted from October enjoyed good initial conditions. Inmid-October, Typhoon Koppu affected the Philippines and caused torrentialrainfall mainly in Aurora province, flooding some arable land. However, theimpact on crop growth was limited according to the NDVI profiles: cropcondition reached the recent five-year maximum level in October. According toNDVI clusters, crop condition decreased from north to south in August, withfavorable conditions in Luzon and poor conditions in Mindanao. From September,however, the difference between north and south narrowed and NDVI values wereaverage throughout the country. Average production can be expected for this year.

 Figure 3.24. Philippinescrop condition, July-October2015

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

(c)Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                               (d) NDVI profile