This monitoring period covers the vegetative and early reproductive phases of winter wheat. Rice planting started in April. The proportion of irrigated cropland in Iran is more than 50%. Nevertheless, adequate rainfall is important for replenishing dams and groundwater. Nationwide, the accumulated rainfall was below average (RAIN -6%), while temperature and radiation were above average (TEMP +0.3°C, RADPAR +1%). The BIOMSS index was 3% below average. The national average of maximum VCI index was 0.64, and the Cropped Arable Land Fraction (CALF) decreased by 3% as compared to the recent five-year average. The national Crop Production Index (CPI) was 1.01, indicating normal crop production conditions. 

According to the national NDVI development graphs, on about 8.6% of the cropland (marked in blue) crop conditions were above average throughout the monitoring period, while on about 60.6% of the cropland, they were around average throughout the monitoring period (marked in red and orange). 25.7% of the cropland showed below average crop conditions at the beginning of the monitoring period (marked in deep green), and then recovered gradually to around average, mainly distributed in Kordestan, Zanjan, Gilan, Qazvin, Hamadan, and Kermanshah. The remaining croplands had close-to-average crop conditions in January and then dropped to below average (marked in light green), mainly distributed in some parts of Ardebil, East Azarbaijan, and Golestan. The decreasing of crop conditions for the light green marked regions might be due to the cloud cover.

In general, the conditions for the winter crops were close-to-average

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, three sub-national agro-ecological regions can be distinguished for Iran, among which two are relevant for crop cultivation. The two regions are referred to as the Semi-arid to sub-tropical hills of the west and north (104), and the Arid Red Sea coastal low hills and plains (103).

In the Semi-arid to sub-tropical hills of the west and north (104) region, NDVI profiles show a similar change of patterns as for the whole country. The accumulated rainfall was 216 mm (7% below average), while temperature and radiation were above average (TEMP +0.4°C, RADPAR +2%). The influence of rainfall exceeded that of radiation and temperature, which resulted in a decrease of BIOMSS by 4%. CALF declined by 8%. The average VCIx was (0.65). Conditions can be assessed as below, but close to average.

Crop conditions in the Arid Red Sea coastal low hills and plains (103) region were below the five-year average in early January only and were above average during the rest of the monitoring period. This region experienced above average rainfall (RAIN +36%) and received less sunshine (RADPAR -2%). The temperature was above average (TEMP +0.2°C) . BIOMSS increased by 15%. The CALF increased by 39% compared to the five-year average, and the national VCIx (0.79) was quite fair, indicating the close-to-average and promising outlook for winter crops in this region.

Figure 3.21 Iran’s crop condition, January - April 2023

(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) Time series temperature profile

(g) Time series rainfall profile

(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 (Arid Red Sea coastal low hills and plains region)

Table 3.33 Iran's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January - April 2023

Table 3.34 Iran's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA, January - April 2023