Wheat is the major cereal crop that was grown in Angola during this monitoring period. Its harvest started in October. Planting of maize and rice also started in October. Agroclimatic indicators revealed a below-average rainfall (RAIN -8%), while there was no departure from the average temperature. Nationwide, the radiation decreased by 2%. Altogether, these conditions led to an increase in biomass by 7%.

The crop condition development graph based on NDVI for Angola presents close-to-average crop conditions throughout the monitoring period compared to the previous 5YA. These conditions were mostly influenced by the adequate rainfall recorded in the country, especially during the early wheat growing stages. The spatial patterns of NDVI departures indicate above-average NDVI in 50.3% of the arable land during the entire monitoring period, while 43.9% of arable land remained below average. At the same time, 5.8% of this area experienced a drop in crop conditions in late October. Nationwide, the maximum VCIx reached 0.85. Best VCIx values were recorded in Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte and Cuanza Sul. With the cropped arable land fraction increasing by 16%, the general crop conditions during July-October 2020 in Angola were normal.

Regional analysis

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

Recorded rainfall was below average in all agroecological zones. The highest departure was observed for in the Central Plateau and Semi-arid zone (about -39% and -32%), respectively. In other zones such as the Arid, Humid and Sub-humid zones, the recorded decreases in rainfall were about 8%, 5% and 6% respectively. The temperature recorded a slight decrease of 0.2 ºC in Central plateau and Humid zone. Except for the Humid zone (RADPAR +1%), all agro-ecological regions recorded decreases in the radiation by about 2%. Even though rainfall was below average, the Central plateau and Semi-arid zones stood out with a higher estimated increase in biomass by about 18% and 13%, respectively. A decrease of about 3% in biomass was recorded for the Humid zone.

The crop conditions development graph based on NDVI reveals below-average crop conditions in the arid zone and sub-humid zone during most of the monitoring period. Above crop conditions were recorded in the Central plateau and Semi-arid zone. The Humid zone presented mixed crop conditions: Crops were in below-average conditions from July to mid-August and recovered in early September. CALF increased by about 58% in Semi-arid zone, while the Arid zone recorded a decrease by about 19% and maximum VCIx was 0.58. In the remaining zones, the recorded maximum VCIx ranged from 0.80 to 0.90.

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

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

(i) 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, July-October 2020.

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