The reporting period covers the harvest of winter wheat in southwestern China, which was concluded by late April. Summer crops (including semi-late rice, late rice, and maize) were planted in April and May.

The CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show that the warm and humid weather from the previous reporting period continued. The RAIN  and TEMP were 4% and 1℃ higher than the 15YA, respectively. The cloudy and rainy weather has led to a 4% decrease in PAR, as compared to the 15YA. The generally favorable weather conditions in the region have resulted in a BIOMSS increase of 2% . At the provincial level, the increase in RAIN  was mainly due to increased rainfall in Sichuan Province, while Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing, and other provinces and cities have experienced varying degrees of lower precipitation. Reflected in the potential biomass map, the potential biomass in Sichuan Province is higher than the average level, while the potential biomass in eastern Yunnan, eastern Guizhou, northeastern Chongqing, and northwestern Hubei is slightly lower. However, the negative departures are mainly concentrated in non-core planting areas, which have little impact on grain production in the southwest region.

The NDVI time series and Crop condition development  map indicate that crop conditions in April were significantly below the 5YA, primarily due to earlier precipitation deficits and high temperatures in April, which were the highest in 15 years. However, as precipitation improved and temperatures gradually returned to normal levels, crop conditions quickly recovered. By the end of the reporting period in July, crop conditions were slightly better than the YA. Corresponding to the potential biomass map, the Crop condition development  map and the VCIx map show that crop conditions in areas with concentrated cultivation are generally good. The overall VCIx for the region is 0.92, slightly better than last year’s value of 0.91. The region’s CPI is 0.99, significantly higher than the 0.96 of the same period last year and on par with the 5YA, indicating that the crop production outlook during this reporting period is stable and improving.

Overall, during the reporting period, the climate conditions in the southwest region were favorable, and crop conditions were slightly better than the average level.

Figure 4.16 Crop condition China Southwest region, April - July 2024

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI     (c) NDVI profiles

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Potential biomass departure from 15YA

(f) Time series rainfall profile

(g) Time series temperature profile

（k）CPI time series graph