In the region as a whole, agro-climatic and agricultural indicators during July to October indicate increases of RAIN (+13%), TEMP (1.2°C), and RADPAR (2%)compared with average. High rainfall occurred mostly in mid-August in Meghalaya, the western part of Assam in India, and Rang pur, north Dhaka, and Sylhet in Bangladesh. Otherwise, rainfall was comparable to the average, and sowas temperature with the exception of north Bihar in India. The biomass accumulation potential (BIOMSS) shows favorable conditions around Tonle Sap in Cambodia, the Red River delta of Vietnam, Tamil Nadu in India, and Central Dhaka in Bangladesh, which are the main rice plantation areas.

The VCIx map indicates good crop condition (+0.86),particularly in the northeastern region of Thailand, Banteay Meanchey,Battambang, and Siem Reap in Cambodia, and Madhya Pradesh in India. The fraction of cropped arable land (CALF) dropped by 1% compared with the last five-year average, affecting mostly Haryana, south And hra Pradesh in India, and the central dry zone of Myanmar, which is related to the low maximum VCI and the low biomass accumulation potential. Low VHIn occurs in Uttar Pradesh,Madhya Pradesh in India, and the central dry zone of Myanmar, consistent with the low biomass accumulation potential. Cropping intensity dropped by 7%compared with the five-year average. Triple-cropping occurs mostly in West Bengal in India, the Red River delta, and the Mekong delta of Vietnam.

Figure 2.4 presents an overview of CropWatch indicators for South and Southeast Asia.

Figure 2.4. South and Southeast Asia MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, July-October 2014