In Pakistan, the reporting time coincides with the sowing of winter crops (wheat, barley, oats, lentils and sugar beet) between October and December, and the harvesting time of maize, rice, cotton and soybean (autumn).

The agroclimatic indicators show an average value for rainfall (RAIN, +3%) and a slight decrease of radiation (RADPAR, -2%)compared to the average. Temperature was below average (TEMP, -0.8 C),while biomass production potential was above (BIOMSS, +18%). CALF decreased (-2%)below the five-year average.

The national NDVI development graph (Figure3.23) indicates that crop condition was unfavorable in the month of November,but that it started gradually improving in December and that it later became comparable to the five-year maximum. The lowest maximum VCI values (<0.5)occur in North Baluchistan and Southeast Sindh. According to the NDVI profile,63% of the cropped areas display above average conditions from December, much of it is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Punjab and Sindh. Remaining areas (37% ofland) show average conditions.

Altogether, crop condition is estimated to be above average.

Figure 3.23. Pakistan crop condition, October 2015-January 2016

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

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