The reporting period is the planting and growing season of rice and maize in the MPZ. Overall, the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show below average crop condition. The excess monsoon rain caused flood and damaged the standing crops mainly in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Rainfall (RAIN) increased 15% over average for the entire zone with individual countries recording values from 6% to 9% (Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Bangladesh), but as much as 20% in India. The spatial distribution of rainfall profiles indicate 58% of the MPZ experienced evenly distributed average rainfall during the monitoring period. However, excess rainfall occurred during July in northern India covering an area of 33% of the MPZ. Temperature for the MPZ was about average and so was radiation (RADPAR, -1%). The maximum VCI values remained below 0.5 for most of the region including central India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, which confirms poor crop condition. Compared to the previous five seasons, the fraction of cropped arable land (CALF) dropped 8 percentage points, primarily in India (-12%), Myanmar (-2%), and Cambodia (-7%). The biomass accumulation potential for the MPZ increased by 4% compared to the previous five-year average, mainly in India (+8%) and Myanmar (+1%). The lowest biomass accumulation potential was recorded in Cambodia (-7%) and Thailand (-1%). Low values of VHI were concentrated over central India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, indicating water stress in these areas.

Overall, crop condition is below average. The decreased cultivated land and the damage caused by flood raises concern for the MPZ.

    (a) Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles                                                               (b) profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

   (c) Profile of temperature departure from average (0C)  

(d) Maximum VCI                                                                                                       (e) Cropped arable land

(f) Biomass accumulation potential departure                                                                 (g) VHI minimum