Winter wheat is cultivated during the reporting period in the south and south-east of Kazakhstan, while spring wheat is planted from May. The national average VCIx was 0.52 and the Cropped Arable Land Fraction decreased by 45% compared to the last five-years' average. Among the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators, RAIN was above average (+16%), while TEMP and RADPAR were below  (-1.5°C and -8%). BIOMSS was close to the five-year average at the national scale. As shown by the NDVI development graph,  conditions (including snow cover) were average from January to late February, but below average from the beginning of March to the end of April. The spatial NDVI pattern and profile show that the crop condition in 79.0% (8.9%+48.0%+22.1%) of the cropped areas was slightly above average only from February to late February in most of Kustanay, North Kazakhstan, Kokchetav, Tselinograd, Turgay, north part of Aktyubinsk provinces. Above average conditions occurred around late March in parts of East Kazakhstan, Semipalatinsk, Pavlodar, Karanganda, Taldy Kurgan, Almta Zhambyl and Kzylorda provinces. Generally, the agroclimatic indicators mentioned above show favorable  condition for crop areas of Kazakhstan for the forthcoming summer crop.  

Regional analysis

Kazakhstan has four agro-ecological regions: (1) Northern,(2)  Eastern plateau and southeastern zone, (3) South and (4) Central non-agriculture regions. Only the Eastern plateau and southeastern region had crops during this monitoring period.

The Eastern plateau and southeastern region had close to average NDVI during the reporting period.   RAIN was 12% above average, but TEMP and RADPAR were normal and below average, respectively (0°C and -12%). The agroclimatic variables resulted in an increase of the BIOMSS index by 4%. The maximum VCI index was 0.65, while the cropped area decreased by 17% compared to the five-year average. 

Figure 3.18. Kazakhstan crop condition, January-April 2018

  (a). Phenology of major crops

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

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to5YA                     (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Eastern plateau and southeastern region)   

 Table 3.41. Kazakhstan agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January-April 2018

Table 3.42. Kazakhstan, agronomic indicators by sub-for this region was national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, January-April 2018

Table 3.40. CropWatch-estimated rice and wheat production for Kazakhstan in 2018 (thousands tons)