The agro-climatic indicators for West Africa show slightly above average conditions for the MPZ in general.

Rainfall was above average (264 mm, with a 10% positive departure) due to a large excess mostly occurring at the beginning of the monitoring period (October) in 47.4% of cropland, well distributed over the MPZ. Remaining areas had average rainfall throughout. Both temperature and sunshine were close to average (average TEMP of 26.9°C, a departure of  -0.3 °C and average RADPAR of 1249.7 MJ, was slightly above average by 1.8 %).

The resulting accumulated biomass potential is up (BIOMSS +6%). Nigeria experienced positive departure (>20%) mostly from the central to northern regions, while western coastal areas (Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia)  experienced negative BIOMSS departures

The MPZ showed  a marginal increase in cultivated area (CALF: 94%, +1% above average) and a high VCIx (0.94), which indicates good yields except for northern parts of Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Benin.

Overall, the CropWatch indicators describe favorable crop condition in most parts of the region.

Figure a: Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles

Figure b: Spatial distribution of temperature profiles

Figure c: VHI Minimum

Figure d: Cropped and uncropped arable land

Figure e: Potential biomass departure from 5YA

Figure f: Maximum VCI