This monitoring period covers the grain filling period and harvest of winter wheat, as well as the planting and early establishment of the rice crop. According to the NDVI-based crop condition development graph, the conditions in Iran during this whole monitoring period were below the 5-year average. The cumulative rainfall was 70 mm, which was 27% below average. However, excessive precipitation in late July had caused regional flooding. The average temperature was 21.9°C (0.5°C above average), whereas the photosynthetically active radiation was 1644 MJ/m2 (1% above average). The potential biomass was 6% lower than the 15-year average. The national maximum vegetation condition index (VCIx) was 0.58, while the cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was 20% lower than the average of the past 5-year. The national Agricultural Production Situation Index (APSI) was 0.9, indicating an unfavorable agricultural production situation.

The NDVI spatial patterns show that from April to July, crop conditions on 10.5% of the cropped areas were above the 5-year average (marked in blue). 22.1% of the cropped areas (marked in red) and 34% of the cropped areas (marked in light green), experienced close to average crop conditions almost throughout the monitoring period. The orange marked regions (23.2% of the cropped areas) experienced slightly below-average crop conditions from middle May to middle June, mainly located in Kordestan, Hamadan, Zanjan, Qazvin, Gilan and Mazandaran. The dark green marked regions (10.2% of the cropped areas), mainly located in Ardebil, Golestan, Ilam, and Fars, suffered from below-average crop conditions (negative NDVI departure bigger than 0.1) from the beginning of the monitoring period and then gradually recovered to near-average in early July. The spatial pattern of maximum Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) was in accord with the spatial distribution of the NDVI profiles. 

Regional Analysis 

Based on farming system, climate, and topographic conditions, Iran can be subdivided into three regions, two of which are the main production areas for crops, namely the Semi-arid to the subtropical hilly region in the west and the north and the Coastal lowland and plain areas of the arid Red Sea. 

In the Western and northern semi-arid subtropical hilly areas, the cumulative precipitation during the monitoring period was 75 mm, 32% below average, the temperature was 20.0°C (+0.5°C), and photosynthetically active radiation was 2% above average. The potential biomass was 9% lower than the average. Crop conditions were below the 5-year average throughout the monitoring period. The proportion of cultivated land was 28%, which is 20% lower than the 5YA average. The average VCIx for this region was 0.62, indicating unfavorable crop conditions.  

In the Coastal lowland and plain areas of the arid Red Sea, the temperature was 0.5°C above average, the accumulated precipitation was 102% above average and the photosynthetically active radiation was slightly below average (-1%). The potential biomass was 2% above the 15-year average. Crop conditions were below but near the 5YA average. During the monitoring period, CALF was 10% below the average of the last 5-years, and the VCIx was 0.49, also indicating poor crop prospects.

Figure 3.21 Iran's crop condition, April-July 2022

(a) Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(c) Maximum VCI

(d) Rainfall time series profile

(e) Temperature time series profile

(f) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA   (g) NDVI profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Semi-arid to sub-tropical hills of the west and north region)

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Coastal lowland and plain areas of the arid Red Sea)

Table 3.33 Iran's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2022

Table 3.34 Iran's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA, April-July 2022