Theperiod from May to June coincides with the planting of winter wheat in the verysouth and the harvest of summer crops, especially maize, which starts in thenorth east in May and reaches the north-western areas in June. The maize cropwas favorable, as confirmed by maximum VCI at 0.83. During that period, NDVIwas close to last year's values and the average of the last five years, butwell below the last five years' maximum. Based on the NDVI profiles, there is aclear gradient of crop condition between the south-eastern coast (north ofEastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal provinces, where NDVI was already below averageat the end of last year) and the north-east, northern-central part (east ofNorth-West Province), and the Northern Province. Although there are someregional differences, the South African maize crop can thus be described asgood. Current cropped arable land estimates stay at -12.6% compared with therecent five years; combined with poor rainfall over the last 4 months (-60% forZAF and -48% for the MRU-10 MRU, Western Cape), prospects are definitely belowaverage for wheat.

(a)  Cropcondition development graph based on NDVI               (b) Maximum VCI

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