The current monitoring period covers most of the wheat and winter (Rabi) rice growing periods. Harvest for both crops was mostly completed by the end of April, while maize and summer (Kharif) rice were harvested by January. The graph of NDVI development shows that the crop conditions were close to or above the 5-year average in general.

The proportion of irrigated cropland in India is 50% and agro-meteorological conditions play an important role in the growth of almost half of the crops. Rainfall is not the major influential factor.The CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that nationwide, TEMP and RADPAR were close to average, whereas RAIN was below the 15YA (-26%). The BIOMSS decreased by 1% compared with the 15YA due to the lower rainfall. The overall VCIx was high, with a value of 0.93. As can be seen from the spatial distribution, only the northwestern region recorded values below 0.80. Most of India had high VCIx values. These spatial patterns of VCIx were thus generally consistent with those of NDVI. The southern and northeastern region showed above-average crop conditions while the conditions were slightly below average in the northwestern regions. The spatial distribution of NDVI profiles shows that before March, 81.7% of the areas showed above-average crop conditions in the central and southern regions. Punjab and Haryana, which are important wheat producing states, experienced daily maximum temperatures that were above 35ºC starting from mid-March, when wheat was still in the grainfilling period. This caused a high percentage of shrivelled grains and yield loss for these two states. Wheat had already been mostly harvested in the other wheat producing states by the time the heat wave started.  CALF increased by 18% compared to the 5YA. At the country level, conditions for crop production were close to average. 

Regional analysis

India is divided into eight agro-ecological zones: the Deccan Plateau (94), the Eastern coastal region (95), the Gangetic plain (96), the Assam and north-eastern regions (97), Agriculture areas in Rajasthan and Gujarat (98), the Western coastal region (99), the North-western dry region (100) and the Western Himalayan region (101).

The four agro-ecological zones of the Deccan Plateau, Eastern coastal region, Gangetic plain and Western Himalayan region showed similar trends in agricultural indices. Compared to the same period of previous years, RAIN had decreased significantly, especially in the Deccan Plateau (-69%). The TEMP and RADPAR were slightly above average, and BIOMSS was below the 15-year average. CALF showed the same trends for the four regions. They were all above average. The graph of NDVI development shows that the crop growth of the four states was close to or above the 5-year average until mid-March, when it started to decline sharply. Generally, the crop production is expected to be near average.

The agriculture areas in Rajastan and North-western dry region recorded similar trends of agricultural indices in this monitoring period. Compared to the same period of the previous years, RAIN increased significantly by 57% in the agriculture areas in Rajastan and Gujarat and by 88% for the North-western dry region. TEMP was slightly above average. The RADPAR was close to average for both regions. BIOMSS was increased significantly because it benefitted from sufficient rainfall. Both regions recorded increases of CALF. VCIx was above 0.85. The graph of NDVI development shows that the crop growth for both regions was generally close to and above the 5-year average. The crop production is expected to be average.

The Assam and north-eastern regions and Western coastal region recorded similar trends of agricultural indices in this monitoring period. Compared to the same period of the previous years, RAIN decreased by 21% in the Assam and north-eastern regions and by 42% for the Western coastal region. TEMP and RADPAR were both close to average. The BIOMSS had decreased due to the insufficient rainfall. Both regions recorded increases of CALF. VCIx was above 0.94. The graph of NDVI development shows that crop growth for both regions was generally close to and above the 5-year average. The crop production is expected to be close to average.

Figure 3.20 India's crop condition, January - April 2022

(a) Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI   

(c) Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                         (e) NDVI profiles

(f)  Rainfall profiles      

(g) Temperature profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Deccan Plateau (left) and Eastern Coastal Region (right))

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Gangetic Plains (left) and Assam and north-eastern regions (right))

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Agriculture areas in Rajasthan and Gujarat (left) and Western Coastal Region (right))

(k) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (North-western dry region (left) and Western Himalayan Region (right))

Table 3.31. India’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January - April 2022

Table 3.32. India’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, January - April  2022