This analysis covers the sowing and growing stage of winter cereals in Uzbekistan from October 2014 to late January 2015. Currently in the field are mostly winter wheat and barley.The country as a whole enjoyed a small increase of rainfall (+4%) and biomass (+10%),while temperature and radiation were below average. A detailed look at the indicators shows favorable conditions in most parts (such as in Ferghana,Andijan, Tashkent, Samarkh and, Nawoly, and Bukhara), with maximum VCI mostly above0.5. In November, the national NDVI development graph indicates that crop condition was unfavorable, consistent with the lack of rainfall. More precise spatial information is provided by the NDVI clusters, which show a sharp dropin late November and a recovery thereafter in eastern and central areas (Ferghana,Andijan, Tashkent, Samarkh and, and Denow). From December to January, abundant rainfall benefited crops, the condition of which is now above the last five-year average level according to the NDVI development graph as well as theNDVI cluster profiles.

Figure3.32. Uzbekistan crop condition, October2014-January 2015