The reporting period covers the harvest period of late rice in Southern China. As presented by the agro-climate indicators, the precipitation (+6%), temperature (+1.3°C) and radiation (+3%) in this area were above the 15YA, which resulted in a above-average biomass production potential (BIOMSS +2%). The potential biomass departure map shows a significant drop in production in eastern Guangdong and Southern Fujian, while the other regions show a rise.

Based on the NDVI departure clustering map and profiles, it was found that NDVI values of most parts of southern China were close to the average level from October to December 2023. However, in January 2024, there was a significant decrease in NDVI in 25.2% of southern China, with the majority of these areas located in the west central part of Guangxi province, where crops suffered from heavy rain and flooding damage. Additionally, there was a noticeable increase in NDVI values in 17.3% of the region, with these areas primarily located in the east central part of Guangxi provincewhere crops benefitted from favorable weather conditions.

All in all, crop conditions were close to normal.

Figure 4.14 Crop condition Southern China region, October 2023-January 2024

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Time series rainfall profile

(c) Time series temperature profile

(d) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI  (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Maximum VCI

(g) Potential biomass departure from 5YA