2.5 South and Southeast Asia

The reporting period covers a variety of phenological situations in the region, listed here by country. Bangladesh: Aman rice planting, Aus rice planting and harvesting, and Boro rice harvesting; Cambodia: maize planting, dry season rice harvesting, and wet season rice planting; India: planting of Kharif rice, maize, and soybean, as well as harvesting of Rabi rice and wheat; Myanmar and Nepal: planting of rice and maize and harvesting for wheat;  Thailand: planting as well as harvesting of rice and maize crops; and Vietnam: rice planting as well as harvesting, which continues here almost year-round. 

Overall, the South and Southeast Asia MPZ received about 17% above average rainfall (RAIN), nearly average temperature (TEMP, -0.6°C) and nearly normal radiation (RADPAR, -2%). All countries recorded above average precipitation: Bangladesh RAIN +46%, India +17%, Thailand +16%, Vietnam +12%, Laos +9%, Cambodia +7%, Nepal +6%, and Myanmar +3%. Particularly in June and July the weather was cooler than normal in all countries in the zone. RADPAR was low in Bangladesh (-7%) and Vietnam (-6%), for other countries in this region it was within 5% of average. With mostly favorable agroclimatic condition, the prevailing biomass accumulation potential BIOMSS was above average for most countries (Bangladesh (+15%), India (+8%), Thailand (+6%), Cambodia (+3%), Nepal (+3%), and Vietnam (+1%)), with the exception of Laos (-2%) and Myanmar (-3%).

Among the agronomic indicators, the VCIx value was generally favorable at about 0.8 and above across the region, except in India where it displays mixed patterns. The Cropped Arable Land Fraction (CALF) indicates that most countries other than India and Myanmar have almost fully cropped their arable land. Uncropped arable land occurs in central Myanmar and especially in India where central, western, and southern areas are affected. The pattern is mostly confirmed by the BIOMSS indicator, which shows also some low values in Thailand. Favorable BIOMSS departures are observed in east, west, and parts of south India, Bangladesh, most of Thailand, and in Vietnam except in the north. Cambodia shows a mixed pattern of high and low biomass potential as well. Crop stress as indicated by VHI was confined to peninsular India and south Myanmar, and only sporadically in other countries. 

The overall situation in the MPZ was good. Because the reporting period covered mostly planting and crop growth periods, the weather in the coming months will be important.   

Figure 2.5a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles (left) and profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm) (right), April-July 2017

Figure 2.5b. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles (left) and profiles of temperature departure from average (°C) (right), April-July 2017

Figure 2.5c. Maximum VCI, April-July 2017

Figure 2.5d. Cropped and uncropped arable land, April-July 2017

Figure 2.5e. Biomass accumulation potential departure, April-July 2017

Figure 2.5f. VHI minimum, April-July 2017