The reporting period corresponds to the growing of summer crops such as maize, to be harvested from May while the harvest of soybean started in April.

The rainfall (RAIN) increased 14% above the average and the temperature (TEMP) was up just 0.3°C.  The estimated RADPAR was 5% above the average with BIOMSS  8% above the average and average CALF at 85%.

80.3% of cropland showed below average NDVI until the end of March, after which values exceeded average. In remaining areas crop condition was above average during the whole period, mostly in the Free State. While the estimated nationwide VCIx value was high (0.8), the maximum VCI map shows large variations in VCIx among provinces. Values were very high (>1) in Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces, high (0.8 – 1) for most regions except some regions in Western Cape and North West provinces where the VCIx was low (<0.5). In general, all CropWatch estimates indicate fair crop conditions.

Regional analysis

Based on the cropping system, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, four sub-national agro-ecological regions (AEZs) can be distinguished for South Africa. Only three of them are relevant for crops; Humid Cape Fold mountains, Mediterranean zone, and Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize areas.

The agroclimatic indicators for the three AEZs show an increase in the rainfall over average by 16, 13, and 15%, respectively, while the temperature was below the average for the first two zones (by 0.2 and 0.5°C, respectively) and 0.4°C above the average for the Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize areas. The estimated RADPAR was at average (1133MJ/m2) for the Humid Cape Fold mountains and above average for the other two zones by 1% and 6%, respectively. The CropWatch agronomic indicators show an increase in the estimated BIOMSS for the three zones between 4% and 14%. The CALF was at the average for the first and third zones, but 26% above in the Mediterranean zone. The maximum VCI was high (0.83 and 0.89) for the first and the third zone but low (0.38) for the Mediterranean zone.

In Humid Cape Fold mountains, crop condition started below the average but passed the average after mid-March. In the Mediterranean zone, the crop condition exceeded average in early March. The Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize areas had above average crop condition only during April.

                                                              (a) Phenology of major crops

       (b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                (c) Maximum VCI

d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                         (e) NDVI profiles

 (f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Humid Cape Fold Mountains (left) and Mediterranean wheat zone (right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize zone)

Table 3.77. South Africa’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January 2019 - April 2019. 

Table 3.78. South Africa’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA/5YA, January 2019 - April 2019.