OK: 01:37:35 CST Thursday, 15 February 2018

A great diversity of phenological phases occur in the MPZ: Bangladesh, Aman rice growth and harvesting, dry season Boro rice and wheat sowing and early growth; Cambodia, maize harvesting; India, Maize growing to harvesting, Kharif rice and soybean in at harvest; Myanmar,  maize sowing as well as harvesting, Main rice at harvest, Second rice at sowing and growth, wheat at sowing and growth; Thailand, Main rice growth and harvest, and Second rice transplantation;  Vietnam, growth to harvesting of 10th month rice in North and South, planting of rice (Spring North and South) and  planting of Winter rice in North and South. 

The vast region recorded average temperature (22.7°C) while both rainfall and RADPAR suffered a deficit compared to average: 247mm or -17% for RAIN and 906MJ/m2 or -7% for RADPAR. Most of the rainfall was received in the months of October and November; it would have been detrimental in countries where crop was ready for harvest. In India rainfall was near average, while Myanmar(+13%), Lao PDR (+23%), Thailand (+29%), Vietnam (+38%), Cambodia (+39%) and Bangladesh (+63%) received above average rainfall. Nepal was the only country with lower rainfall (-60%). During the reporting period countries at higher latitude (India, Myanmar and Nepal) experienced warmer temperature than expected as seen from the temperature distribution profile, whereas lower latitudes had cooler condition (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR,Thailand and Vietnam). RADPAR received was below average in all the countries: Nepal (-3%), India and Myanmar (-5%),Cambodia and Thailand (-8%), Bangladesh (-11%), and Vietnam (-14%). Except for India (-5%) and Nepal (-40%), all countries had above average BIOMSS. The values ranged from Lao PDR (+10%), Thailand (+16%), Myanmar(+19%), Vietnam (+27%), Cambodia (+34%), and Bangladesh (+69%).

The cropped arable land fraction was high at 95% and VCIx at 0.94 indicates good yields. Uncropped areas are in western and central India, eastern Bangladesh, and some scattered patches in Thailand and Vietnam. Low VCI (<0.5) in continuous patches can also be seen in Northwestern India, Eastern Bangladesh and scattered over Thailand and Vietnam.

Crop area coverage and crop conditions as observed through agronomic indicators revealed BIOMSS accumulation potential would have been 520gDM/m2 (+8%) for the region. Biomass accumulation potential analysis indicated large continuous areas under high biomass (>+20%) in East India, few patches in East coast and Deccan Plateau regions of India; Myanmar; Central Thailand; West Cambodia; and Southern parts of Vietnam. Continuous large areas under low biomass accumulation (<-20%) are in Central and North India, few patches in South India, Northwest Thailand, and North Vietnam. Observations on minimum VHI indicate scattered occurrence of water stressed crops  at several places across the region.

In summary the MPZ had a mixed pattern of crop condition based on the analysis of agro-climatic and agronomic indicators. The countries and regions at higher latitude had below average to average conditions for crops, whereas lower latitude had better conditions.

Figure 2.4 South and Southeast Asia MPZ: Agroclimatic and Agronomic indicators, October 2017 - January 2018

a) Spatial distribution of rainfall profile      b) Profile of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c) Spatial distribution of temperature profiles   d) Profile of temperature departure from average (degree C)

e) Max VCI                                          f) CALF

  g) Biomass accumulation potential departure                            h) VHI Minimum