Attachments
Summary
Hazards
In March 2023, heavy rains caused floods in India,
Indonesia, Philippines and Vanuatu. In India, thousands of people in many states were affected, with over 18,000 hectares of farmlands in Maharashtra damaged. In Indonesia, over 23,000 people in Sumatra were affected. In the Philippines, over 6,900 people in Region six and Davao de Oro were affected and over 2,500 people were displaced. In Vanuatu, 80 percent of the population (over 250,000 people) were affected by tropical cyclones Judy and Kevin; Tafea and Shefa provinces were the worst-affected areas.
Snowfall and heavy rains killed at least three people in nine provinces of Afghanistan with over 750 houses destroyed.
December 2022-March 2023 Rainfall
Drier-than-average conditions continued in Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The growing of winter barley and wheat crops remained under mixed weather conditions in these countries.
There was slight to moderate rainfall in major parts of Bangladesh, eastern India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Growing of dry season rice is ongoing under favourable weather conditions, except flood-affected areas.
Wetter than average rainfall was observed across Fiji, some parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu.
Short Term Forecast (1-10 April 2023)
Below-average rainfall conditions are forecast for the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and major parts of Bangladesh, Cambodia, northeastern India, Lao PDR,
Myanmar, and Nepal.
Wetter than average conditions are forecast in major parts of Afghanistan, Bhutan, DPR Korea, northern and eastern India, northern Pakistan, southern Philippines,
Java of Indonesia, and Timor Leste.
Seasonal Outlook (April-June 2023)
Higher than normal rainfall is likely in northern Cambodia, Fiji, Papua of Indonesia, southern Lao PDR, southern Myanmar, Philippines, southern Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.
Drier conditions are projected in some parts of northeastern India, Indonesia (Java, southern and western Kalimantan, southern Sumatra), Kiribati, northern Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Tuvalu.
Estimated crop production (2023)
2023 agricultural prospects are generally favourable, except for Myanmar and Sri Lanka, where cereal outputs are anticipated well below the five-year averages, as limited availability and high prices of agricultural inputs caused reductions in the area planted and yield. In addition, lower than the five-year average rice production is expected in Pakistan caused by the severe floods in 2022. Furthermore, a localized outbreak of locust in Baluchistan may affect negatively to the wheat production prospects.