During this monitoring period, maize and rice reached maturity and wheat sowing started in May. Rainfall was below average (RAIN, -7%), whereas temperature (TEMP, -0.1°C) and radiation remained close to normal. Biomass was estimated to be 14% below average, although NDVI was close to the 5YA at the national level.

VCIx values varied from 0.8 to more than 1 throughout the country. The spatial distribution of NDVI profiles indicates that in nearly 29.5% of the cropped area, crop conditions were above average during the entire monitoring period, especially in Cunene and Cuando Cubango provinces. Rainfall was quite variable in space and time, which caused moisture deficits in the south and west. But crop conditions were in general close to normal.

Regional Analysis

Considering the cropping systems, climatic zones and topographic conditions, Angola is divided into five agro-ecological zones (AEZs): (1) Arid zone, (2) Central Plateau, (3) Humid zone, (4) Semi-arid zone, and (5) Sub-humid zone.

During the reporting period, four zones received below-average rainfall, including Arid zone (-24%), Central Plateau (-24), Semi-arid zone (-34%), and Subhumid zone (-4%). Above-average rainfall (RAIN +4%) was only recorded in Humid zone. The Arid zone was the only region which recorded above-average temperatures (TEMP +0.5°C). It was cooler than normal in the Central Plateau (-4°C). The remaining zones recorded decreases in temperature varying from 0.1°C to 0.2°C. Except for a decrease of 3% in the Humid zone, the remaining zones recorded increases in radiation by 1%. Biomass decreased in all agro-ecological zones. However, despite the increases in rainfall, the total biomass production in the Humid zone decreased by 21% compared to the past fifteen years average, due to a reduction in both temperature and radiation. Large departure in CALF by 6% was observed in the Semi-arid zone while the remaining regions recorded an about-average CALF. Favourable vegetation condition indexes (VCIx) were observed in all agro-ecological zones.

The Arid zone was the one with the lowest VCIx. The lowest VCIx verified in this region, also reflects the reported below-average crop conditions during the entire period (figure f). Close-to-average crop conditions were recorded in the Semi-arid zone while in the Sub-humid zone, and Central Plateau, crop conditions were favourable. In the Humid zone, crop conditions were well above the average of the past five years in April, dropping to below-average from early May till the end of the reporting period.

Figure 3.6. Angola’s crop condition, April-July 2020

(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) National time-series rainfall profiles                                                                     (g) National time-series temperature profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI-Arid zone  (left), and Central Plateau (right)

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI-Humid zone (left), and Semi-arid zone (right)

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

Table 3.5. Angola agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2020

Table 3.6. Angola agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, April-July 2020