From April to July, the main rice and maize crops were sown, and the harvest of the second rice was completed in June. According to the agroclimatic indicators, Thailand experienced rainy and cooler than usual weather in this monitoring period with above-average rainfall (RAIN +14%) and sunshine (RADPAR +5%), as well as decreased temperature (TEMP -0.5°C). All these indicators led to a favorable potential biomass (BIOMSS, +7%). The proportion of irrigated cropland in Thailand is 22.5%, and therefore, regular rainfall is important to sustain crop growth.

The NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions were above average before mid-May mainly due to high temperatures and sufficient rainfall. Subsequently, the rainfall and temperature were generally below average from late-May to mid-to-late June, which led to a decrease in crop conditions. Then, the crop conditions gradually improved close to the 5-year average at the end of monitoring period. According to the NDVI departure clustering map, 57.7% of cropland was always slightly above average from April to July, widely located in central, eastern and southern areas. 18.1% of the cropped area, mostly located in northeast and southwest parts, showed a sharp drop in May, presumably due to cloud cover in the satellite images, and then reached average levels by the end of this monitoring period.  A similar sharp drop in early July was observed for 13.8% of the cropped area. Those areas were located in pockets over most of Thailand, but predominantly in the south. For the remaining 10.4%, a sharp negative departure was observed at the end of this monitoring period.

At the national level, all arable land was cropped during the season (CALF +100%) and had favorable VCIx values of around 0.92. The Crop Production Index (CPI) in Thailand is 1.15. CropWatch estimates that the crop conditions were average.

Regional analysis

The regional analysis below focuses on some of the already mentioned agro-ecological zones of Thailand, which are mostly defined by the rice cultivation typology. Agro-ecological zones include Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands (115), South-eastern horticulture area (116), Western and southern hill areas (117), and the Single-cropped rice north-eastern region (118).

For the Central double and triple-cropped rice lowlands, the agroclimatic indicators show that the accumulated rainfall and radiation were above average (RAIN +34%, RADPAR +6%), and temperature was below average (TEMP -0.6ºC), which resulted in above-average biomass production potential (BIOMSS +11%). According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions were favorable and above the 5-year average for most of the monitoring period, except for July. The crop conditions even reached the 5-year maximum level before late April. Considering the favorable VCIx value of 0.91, the situation is assessed as slightly above average.

According to agro-climatic indicators for the South-eastern horticulture area, temperature was below average (TEMP -0.5 ºC), while accumulated rainfall and solar radiation were slightly above average (RAIN +3%, RADPAR +2%), the resulting biomass production potential stayed unchanged (BIOMSS 0%). The NDVI curve as well as a VCIx of 0.92 indicate average conditions.

Agroclimatic indicators show that the conditions in the Western and southern hills were slightly above average: accumulated rainfall and radiation were above average (RAIN +4%, RADPAR +4%), and temperature was below average (TEMP -0.1ºC), resulting in an increase of biomass production potential (BIOMSS +4%). As shown in NDVI development graph, the crop conditions were markedly above average and even at the 5-year maximum level in early-to-mid April, but dropped to below-average levels after mid-May. VCIx was at 0.94. Overall, crop conditions were close to normal.

Indicators for the Single-cropped rice north-eastern region follow the same patterns as those for the country as a whole: accumulated rainfall and radiation were above average (RAIN +24%, RADPAR +7%), and temperature was below average (TEMP –1.0ºC), resulting in an increased biomass production potential (BIOMSS +11%). As depicted in the NDVI development graph, the crop conditions were above average before early May, when a sharp drop was observed. Subsequently, conditions gradually improved to average levels. According to the satisfactory VCIx value of 0.91, and the NDVI curve, the crop conditions were close to average.

Figure 3.40 Thailand's crop condition, crop calendar from April-July 2022

(a) Crop phenology map of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (c) Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Rainfall profile (g) Temperature profile 

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI in the double and triple-cropped rice lowlands (left) and single-cropped rice North-eastern region (right)

(i)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI in the South-eastern horticulture area (left) and Western and southern hill areas (right)

Table 3.70 Thailand's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 15YA, April - July 2022

Table 3.71 Thailand's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, April - July 2022