The South and Southeast Asia MPZ includes India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. This monitoring period covers the growth and harvest period of summer rice, maize, and soybean.

According to the agroclimatic indicators, the accumulated precipitation and the temperature were slightly above the average (ΔRAIN +1%, ΔTEMP +0.6℃). Meanwhile, RADPAR was above the average (ΔRADPAR +5%), which led to an increase in the potential biomass production (ΔBIOMSS +2%). The CALF of 96%, indicates that in most areas of the MPZ, crops were cultivated. The CALF was similar to the values observed during the past five years. In addition, VCIx of the MPZ was 0.89, indicating that the crops were growing well.

Throughout the entire monitoring period, the spatial distribution of rainfall profiles indicates that the precipitation for 47.4% of the MPZ (northern and southern India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam) was close to the 15YA. Additionally, 10% of the MPZ, covering northern and eastern India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Vietnam, experienced precipitation levels below the 15YA. During the monitoring period, the precipitation for 16.6% of the MPZ (northern and eastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and northern Vietnam) fluctuated between the mean and above-average levels. Around 14.9% of the MPZ (mainly in southeastern and northwestern India) experienced intense precipitation in late July, which caused flooding conditions. Other regions (accounting for 11.1% of the MPZ) showed rainfall conditions with strong fluctuations, mainly in the western and western coastal areas of India.

Based on the spatial distribution of temperature profiles observed throughout the entire monitoring period, it was found that the average temperature in 2.2% of the MPZ, specifically in Nepal, was significantly above the 15YA. Moreover, in 24.4% of the MPZ, which includes eastern and southern India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the average temperature was slightly above the average. The average temperature in 56.9% of the MPZ (India, Bangladesh, south Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam) was close to the average. The average temperature in 16.4% of the MPZ (mainly in northwestern India) was below the 15YA during the monitoring period but slightly above the average in early September and late October.

The BIOMASS departure map illustrates that the potential biomass mainly in northern India and Nepal exceeded the historical average for the same period by 20%. Conversely, the potential biomass in the southern part of India was observed to be below the average level. The Maximum VCI shows that the index was below 0.5 in the southern and western parts of India and some scattered regions. The VHI Minimum map shows that most of the MPZ was temporarily impacted by drought, except for southern and western India, northern Myanmar, eastern Thailand, and some scattered regions. The CALF map indicates that a substantial portion of the arable land in the MPZ was planted, and the uncultivated arable land was scattered mainly in southern and western India.

Overall, the crop conditions in the MPZ are expected to be favorable.

Figure 2.4 South and Southeast Asia MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, July 2023 to October 2023.

a.Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles  b.Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c.Spatial distribution of temperature profiles  d.Profiles of temperature departure from average (mm)

e.Cropped and uncropped arable land

f.Potential biomass departure from 5YA

g.Maximum VCI

h.VHI Minimun