National Analysis

Covering the late growth and harvest of Maize and Rice, the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators inform us that  RAIN was below average (-6%) while both temperature and radiation were above  (TEMP +1.7°C, RADPAR +6%). The resulting agronomic variables show both decreased, biomass by 2% and the cropped arable land fraction by 4%. According to the NDVI development graph values were below average throughout almost the entire monitoring period. At the end of January, mid-February and mid-April, crop condition was none the less above average. The maximum VCI map shows that the most favorable situation occurred in the north-western areas (especially in the provinces of Zaire, Uíge, Benga and Cuanza Norte). The NDVI profiles indicate that in  the provinces of Benguela, Huambo and Huíla, the condition of crops exceeded the previous five-years average. This area corresponds to 30% of the total cropped area. Among the total cropped area, 4.3%, registered below average crop condition during January; however, these areas recovered and kept about the average during the entire monitoring period. In general, crop condition was unfavourable during the monitoring period.

Regional analysis

Considering the cropping systems, climatic zones and, and topographic conditions, Angola is divided into six agro‐ecological zones (AEZs): the Central Plateau, Humid, Sub-humid, Semi-arid, Arid and Desert.

Excepting the Central Plateau zone, all the agro-ecological zones showed below average crop conditions during the entire monitoring period. The agroclimatic factors have influenced the crop condition in these regions, as all the zones excepting the Sub-humid zone, showed a shortage of rainfall. A significant drop in rainfall was verified in the Semi-arid zone (RAIN down 28%). In this region, both temperature and radiation recorded an increase by about 1.9°C and 9% respectively. It is also important to mention that despite the increase in rainfall (+9%) recorded in the Sub-humid zone, temperature and radiation increased by about 1.6°C and 5%, respectively. The significant increase in temperature and radiation also occurred in the Central Plateau region (TEMP +2.7°C, RADPAR +7%). Biomass and CALF registered decreases in the Arid and Semi-arid zones. In the Arid zone, the Biomass decreased by 10% and the CALF by about 24% while in Semi-arid zone the biomass dropped by 12% and the CALF decreased by 7%. The maximum VCI values recorded during this period were low in the Arid zone, about 0.64.

Figure 3.6. Angola’s crop condition, January-April 2019

(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- Arid zone (g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI - Central Plateau

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI- Humid zone (i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI - Semi-arid zone

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI- Sub-humid zone

Table 3.3. Angola agroclimatic indicators by subnational regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January-April 2019

 Table 3.4. Angola agronomic indicators by subnational regions,current season's values and departure from 5YA/15YA, January-April 2019