The harvesting period of the main rice crop was completed in January, while planting of the second rice crop started in early January. Based on CropWatch indicators, the situation of crops during November to January in Thailand was average to above average compared the previous five years.The CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators showed an increase of radiation(+1%), rainfall (+17%), and temperature (+0.8°C) compared to average.Additionally, biomass showed a 2% increase compared with the recent five-year average. In early October, the crop condition was better than the previous year. From November to mid-January, the crop condition showed values below average compared to those of the recent five years and the previous year due tothe erratic monsoon rains and unfavorable weather conditions during the main rice crop period. The NDVI profiles in the area around the Chao Phraya river basin gradually decreased to values below average, while the crop condition was mostly above average in the northeastern and eastern region. The maximum VCIindex was very high (0.89), due to good crop condition throughout the country.Crop condition was favorable in Loei, Buengkan, Sisaket, Chonburi, Chanthaburi,and Sakaeo provinces, with the maximum VCI above 1.0. Low VCIx values occurred in the central part of Thailand, particularly in the province of Chainat, which was affected by severe drought.

Figure3.28. Thailand crop condition, October2014-January 2015

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

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