As shown by the national NDVI development graph, no winter crops are normally cultivated in Kazakhstan, while spring crops are currently at the sowing and vegetative stages. During the monitoring and reporting period, rainfall (RAIN) was below average by 2%, while temperature (TEMP) was above by 0.4°C, and PAR accumulation (RADPAR) again below average by 2%, leading to a small biomass potential (BIOMSS) increase of 2% over the recent five-year average. In the main agricultural regions, rainfall was down 11% in northeastern Zapadno-Kazakhsranskaya, 3% in the north of Severo kazachstanskaya, and 6% in the Akmolinskaya oblast. However, spatial NDVI patterns compared to the recent five years and NDVI profiles indicate that the south and north had favorable vegetation development, an important observation in a country where livestock plays a major role. Poor vegetation that occurs in about 10.6% of areas is concentrated along the Chinese border. Current NDVI profiles and values of maximum VCI are about average, with more favorable areas in the south. 

Altogether, crop prospects for the country are currently average, with the exception of limited patches along the Chinese border.

Figure 3.18. Kazakhstancrop condition, January-April 2017

(a). Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                                  (b). Maximum VCI

(c). Spatial NDVI pattern compared to 5YA,                                       (d). NDVI profile