Crop condition from January to April 2015 was generally above average in Iran. During this period,winter wheat was grown and barley harvested. Accumulated rainfall (RAIN) and radiation (RADPAR) were below average in the monitoring period, while the temperature (TEMP)was above. CropWatch agroclimatic indices for the current season indicate unfavorable conditions for winter crop growth, which are confirmed by thedecrease of the BIOMSS indicator by 10%. The national average of the maximum VCI(0.76)was just above average conditions, and the area of cropped arable land (CALF)increased by 2% compared to the five-year average.

Crop conditions close toor above the five-year average are mainly distributed in the northwest region.Other regions, such as the Khuzestan and Fars provinces in the south west region, and Razavi Khorasan and North Khorasan province of the northeastregion, generally experienced below average crop condition from February toApril. Overall, Iran’s latest 2014-15 winter crop outcome is estimated average,but more favorable in the northwest.

Figure3.17. Iran crop condition, January-April2015

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

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