In Iran, crop condition was generally below average for the reporting period. Winter wheat was harvested from June to July, while the sowing of summer crops (potato and rice)began in May. Rainfall (RAIN) was far below average in the monitoring period,while temperature (TEMP) and radiation (RAIN) were above. CropWatch agroclimatic indices for the current season show significantly unfavorable conditions for crop growth, which is confirmed by the decrease of the BIOMSS index by 33% and low average VCIx (0.41).

Crop condition in the most of north-western region was above or close to the five-year average fromApril to May, while it was below average from June to July. Khuzestan and Fars provinces in the southwest region, Razavi Khorasan province of the northeastregion, and the Mazandaran and Gilan provinces of the central north regiongenerally experienced below average crop condition from April to July. Overall,the outcome of winter crops is average while crop condition of summer crops ispoor.

Figure3.17. Iran crop condition, April-July2015

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

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