The reporting period covers the onset of the main rainy season throughout south of the region and the end of the rainy season in the northern Sahelian areas. The main activities include the harvesting of main cereals (maize, sorghum, millet, and rice) under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Tuber crops like yam are being harvested while rice harvest extends into December and January. In the south with bimodal rainfall, the first maize crop was harvested in October; however cassava is still growing hence contributing to the cropped arable land as reflected by the CALF (97%). 

Indicators show close to but above average rainfall of 1058 mm (+12%), average temperature (TEMP 24.6°C, down 0.3°C) and sunshine (RADPAR 1086 MJ/m2, up 1%), leading to a marginal increase in biomass production potential (BIOMSS 724 gDM/m2, +3%) with larger departures observed in south-eastern Nigeria bordering Cameroon. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) reached 97% for the region (1% above 5YA). The maximum VCI (VCIx) map as an index of crop condition shows an average value of 0.96  exceeding 1.0 in some areas of northern Nigeria, indicating generally favorable condition for crop growth. The VHI minimum map, as a proxy for characterizing drought showed water stresses throughout the MPZ especially the northern part of the region which has now reach the end of the crop growing season. According to the croping inttensity map, the main croping intenstisy in this MPZ is between single croping and double croping, where the major double croping area concentrated in the middle region of Nigeria.

These CropWatch indicators, show stable climatic conditions for the MPZ and mostly favorable prospects for 2019 crops due to adequate cumulative rainfall amounts.

Figure A: Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles

Figure B: Spatial distribution of temperature profiles

Figure C: Cropped and uncropped arable land

Figure D: Potential biomass departure from 5YA

Figure E: Maximum VCI

Figure F: VHI Minimum

Figure I:Croping Intensity