During this monitoring period, the main crop grown in Türkiye is winter wheat. Maize and rice sowing starts in April. The NDVI-based time series process line shows that crop growth in Türkiye was better in January, deteriorated suddenly in February and then recovered in March and April. According to news reports, south-eastern Türkiye was hit by a major earthquake on 6 February, which damaged the infrastructure.  Thanks to above average rainfall in March and April, crop growth conditions were in line with previous years.

Nationally, cumulative rainfall (RAIN) was 6% below average, temperature (TEMP) was 0.4°C above average, and photosynthetically active radiation (RADPAR) was 1% below average. The share of irrigated land in Türkiye is 19.8%. The cumulative potential biomass (BIOMSS) was 3% lower than the 15YA, the cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was 7% higher and the national optimum vegetation condition index (VCIx) was 0.85. The national crop production index (CPI) was 1.23.  

The spatial distribution map of NDVI shows that it was close to or slightly above average in 20.6% of the cultivated areas (marked by the blue line), mainly in the eastern region. The NDVI was below average (marked by the yellow line table) in 28.2% of the areas monitored during the monitoring period, mainly in the central region. The sharp drops in NDVI can most likely be attributed to snow or cloud cover in the satellite images. It is worth noting that the NDVI trend line at the national level showed a clear upward trend in March, in line with the long-term average.

Regional analysis

Türkiye includes four agro-ecological regions: the Black Sea region (191), the Central Anatolia region (192), the Eastern Anatolia region (193) and the Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean regions (194).

Crop growth in the Black Sea region was better in January, deteriorated suddenly in early February and returned to normal levels in early March. Photosynthetically active radiation (RADPAR) in the region was 3% lower than average, average temperature (TEMP) was 0.3°C lower, precipitation (RAIN) was 4% higher and final accumulated potential biomass (BIOMSS) was 3% lower. The optimum vegetation condition index (VCIx) was 0.89, the cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was 4% higher than the average and the crop production index (CPI) was 1.13, indicating a slightly higher than average level of crop production in this region.

Crop growth in the Central Anatolian region was better in January, deteriorated suddenly in early February and returned to normal levels in early March. Photosynthetically active radiation (RADPAR) in this region was 2% lower than average, average temperature (TEMP) was 0.1°C higher, rainfall (RAIN) was 6% higher and cumulative potential biomass (BIOMSS) was at the same level as average. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was 10% higher, the optimum vegetation condition index (VCIx) was 0.82 and the crop production situation index (CPI) was 1.25, indicating an agricultural production situation that is slightly above average for the region.

Crop growth in the Eastern Anatolia region reached its highest level in January, deteriorated suddenly in early February and returned to normal levels in early March. Precipitation (RAIN) in this region was 11% below average, average temperature (TEMP) was 0.9°C higher, photosynthetically active radiation (RADPAR) was 1% lower and cumulative potential biomass (BIOMSS) was 3% higher than average. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was 12 points higher than the average, the optimum vegetation condition index (VCIx) was 0.75, and the crop production index (CPI) was 1.3, which is expected to be above average for the agricultural production situation in the region.

Crop growth in the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean regions was better in January, deteriorated suddenly in early February and returned to normal levels in early March. Precipitation (RAIN) in this region was 13% below average, photosynthetically active radiation (RADPAR) average, average temperature (TEMP) was 0.7°C higher and cumulative potential biomass (BIOMSS) was 6% lower. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was 3% higher. The optimum vegetation condition index (VCIx) was 0.84 and the crop production index (CPI) was 1.19, resulting in above-average crop production conditions.

Figure 3.5 Türkiye’s crop condition, January 2023 - 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 rainfall profile                                   (g) Time   series temperature profile
(h) Crop condition development graph based on   NDVI (Black Sea region (left) and Central Anatolia region (right))
(i) Crop condition development graph based on   NDVI (Eastern Anatolia region (left) and Marmara_Agean_Mediterranean lowland   region (right))

Table 3.1 Türkiye’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January 2023 - April 2023

Table 3.2 Türkiye’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, January 2023 - April 2023