Thailand’s main rice crop was harvested in January, while itssecond season rice matured and was ready for harvesting in April. Rainfall wasabundant over the reporting period (RAIN, +61%), while temperature (TEMP,-0.1°C) and radiation (RADPAR, -1%) were slightly below average. The biomassproduction potential (BIOMSS) is up 9%, and the fraction of cropped arable land(CALF) also increased by 12 percentage points over its average for the period.

Crop condition based on NDVI was below average in mid-February andMarch, but improved later. Considering the spatial NDVI patterns andcorresponding profiles, crop condition in most regions was slightly above butclose to average, while for about 19.5% of cropped land, located in the center(Pichit, Petchabun, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, and Lop Buri) and northeast (NongKhai, Kalasin, Roi Et, Khon Kaen, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani), slightly belowaverage conditions were observed with VCIx values below 0.5.

Overall, crop production prospects for the country remain close toaverage or above.

Figure3.28. Thailand crop condition, January-April2017

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

(c) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA(c) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA