The South and Southeast Asia MPZ includes India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. This reporting period covers the growth period of maize and the growth and harvest period of summer rice and soybean. At the MPZ level, compared to the 15YA, TEMP was 0.2°C higher and RADPAR was 2% above, which led to a 3% increase in BIOMSS, though RAIN was 7% below. Meanwhile, CALF was 1% higher compared with the last 5YA, reaching 97% and VCIx was 0.93. Rainfall-deficit conditions persisted before early September in central India and southern Myanmar. It affected the growth of summer crops in those regions.

The spatial distribution of rainfall profiles reveals that precipitation in 40.7% of this MPZ (mainly in southern India, eastern India, Bangladesh, Myanma, northern Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam) was slightly below the average from mid-June to early October, reaching above-average levels in mid-October. Other regions showed rainfall conditions with strong fluctuations before October, followed by above-average rainfall in mid-October. The spatial distribution of temperature profiles reveals that temperature in 60.1% of this MPZ were slightly above average, mainly in Southeast Asia, southern Bangladesh, eastern India and northern India. TEMP conditions in northern and northwestern India were fluctuating above or below the average during the entire monitoring period. The prolonged dry weather conditions in central India, a small area of northern India and southern Myanmar hampered the growth of summer crops and resulted in lower BIOMSS. 

The BIOMSS departure map reveals that high values (above 20%) mainly occurred in northwestern India, and above-average values for the whole MPZ indicate generally favorable crops conditions. The Maximum VCI showed that high values (more than 0.8) mainly occurred in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, Nepal and eastern India. The Minimum VHI showed severe drought conditions in eastern India, central India, central Myanmar, northern Thailand, Cambodia and spread areas of Vietnam, which may have affected the growth of crops.

In summary, crops conditions in most of this MPZ are expected to be generally favorable except for some pockets that were affected by severe drought. 

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 (mm)

e. Cropped and uncropped arable land

f. Potential biomass departure from 5YA

g. Maximum VCI

h. VHI Minimum