During the monitoring period from January to April 2022, no crops were grown in Mongolia due to the cold winter weather. Summer crops (mainly spring wheat and potatoes) will be planted in May. The proportion of irrigated cropland in Mongolia is only 3% and agro-meteorological conditions play a decisive role in the growth of almost all crops. According to the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators, rainfall was significantly below the 15YA in the Altai region (-41%) and Gobi Desert region (-52%), while above average in the Central and Eastern Steppe region (+23%). Accordingly, the average rainfall in Mongolia was close to the 15YA (70mm). Similar to the trend reported in the last bulletin, Mongolia was warmer than usual (+0.5°C), while RADPAR was slightly below average (-2%). The potential biomass was slightly above average (BIOMSS +1%) and the maximum VCI was 0.95.

According to the development graph based on NDVI, the vegetation conditions in Mongolia were normal, and the spatial distribution of NDVI profiles also shows that NDVI of most regions was close to average. Overall, the climate and soil conditions at the start of the summer crop season were normal.

Regional analysis

Hangai Khuvsgul region: The average temperature was slightly above average (+0.2°C), while rainfall and solar radiation were below average (-5% and -2%). Thus, the potential biomass was decreased by 8%. The development graph based on NDVI shows that vegetation conditions were below average throughout this monitoring period.

Selenge-Onon region: The agroclimatic conditions for this region were normal (RAIN +3%, TEMP +0.5°C, RADPAR -2%, BIOMSS +5%), the maximum VCI was 0.96, and the development graph based on NDVI also indicates normal vegetation conditions.

Central and Eastern Steppe Region: Rainfall was significantly above average (+23%), the average temperature increased by 0.5°C, and solar radiation decreased by 3%. The combination of the factors resulted in a higher BIOMSS (+14%) compared to the fifteen-year average, and the maximum VCI was 1.13. Overall crop prospects are average.

Figure 3.31 Mongolia’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 (Hangai Khuvsgul Region (left) and Selenge-Onon Region (right))
(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Central and Eastern Steppe)

Table 3.55 Mongolia’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values, and departure from 15YA, January - April 2022

Table 3.56 Mongolia’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values, and departure from 5YA, January - April 2022