The reporting period covers the wintering period of winter crops (mainly winter wheat) in southwestern China. According to the regional NDVI profile, crop conditions were generally normal, but slightly below average in January.

Rainfall was above the 15-year average (RAIN +20%) but solar radiation was below average (RADPAR -7%). Temperature was average (TEMP +0.0°C). The resulting BIOMSS was 9% above average mainly due to the above-average rainfall. The cropped arable land fraction remained at the same level as in the last five years.

According to the NDVI departure clustering map and the profiles, NDVI values were close to average in most regions. In Chongqing and northern Yunnan, the crop conditions were generally normal during the monitoring period. Crop condition in Guizhou was in general above average, mainly due to abundant precipitation (See Annex A.11), but crop growth was unfavorable in northwestern Guizhou in October and below average in central-eastern Guizhou in January. Abundant precipitation in Sichuan is generally favorable for crop growth, crop condition remained at or slightly above average. The VCIx reached 0.97. All in all, crop conditions were generally average.

Figure 4.16 Crop condition China Southwest region, October 2021-January 2022

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI     (c) NDVI profiles

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Potential biomass departure from 15YA

(f) Time series rainfall profile

(g) Time series temperature profile