The reported period covers the onset of the main growing season for the main crops (cereals: maize, sorghum, millet; tubers: yam and cassava) that are important components of food security in the West African region. Most of the cropped land is along the coastal areas while the northern drier parts are currently uncropped. Dry conditions in most parts of the north are important for the crop harvest April, while onset of the rains in the south (February/March) created conducive environments for land preparation and planting of maize and yams.

The West African region received cumulative rainfall of 192 mm (+1% above average) covering 59.2% of the region with highest amounts  in Equatorial Guinea (640mm, +1%). However we expect precipitation to build up starting with the southern coastal areas into the northern areas. The regional average temperature was 28.7°C (-0.4°C departure) and RADPAR reached 1317 MJ/m², an insignificant from the average). The observed fraction of cropped arable land (CALF) is predominantly relevant for the wet coastal areas while northern areas of the West African region are still uncropped. Consequently, the observed biomass production potential was 602 gDM m-2 with low departures (<-20%) covering mostly uncropped northern areas (except for some irrigated winter crops) and coastal parts which experience bimodal rainfall.  The observed VCIx for the MPZ was 0.89 predominantly resulting from the coastal areas and northern Nigeria. The VHI minimum map, a proxy characterizing vegetation health or a combined estimation of moisture and thermal conditions showed stresses from mid to northern areas of the MPZ affecting most parts of the country in this regions.

Based on these CropWatch indicators, stable climatic conditions favorable onset of the main long growing season are expected in the MPZ.

Figure 2.1. West Africa MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, January to April 2019.

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles              b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles     d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (mm)

e. Maximum VCI

f. Cropped arable land

g. Biomass accumulation potential departure

h. VHI minimum