The reporting period was characterized by harvesting activities of the major food crops in the region. In Nigeria, harvesting of irrigated rice and second maize crop was completed by end-January. The crop residues from main harvests are an important source of livestock fodder. In the coastal areas one-year-old cassava crop was still growing and harvest of second season cassava crops started in January.

Based on the climatic indicators the region (MPZ) received on deficient rainfall of 167 mm (down by 21%), with extreme rainfall received in Equatorial Guinea (1,419 mm, up by 10%) and Gabon (1,420 mm, up by 4%). Reduced average rainfall was observed in Togo (-51%), Burkina Faso (-37%), Nigeria (-34%), Ghana (-19%), Côte d'Ivoire (-16%) and Sierra Leone (-16%). The average temperature in the MPZ varied from 23.1°C to 27.1°C with a regional average of 25.4°C (up by 0.4°C) and solar radiation of 1,194 MJ/m² , down by 3%. The accumulated biomass production potential of the region was 402 gDM/m2 (-10%). The cultivated arable cropped area (CALF) for the region was above 95% (+2%) except for Nigeria, where it was at 90% (+7%) while the regional vegetative health index (VCIx) was at 0.95, indicating good crop conditions in most parts of the region.

These CropWatch indicators showed stable climatic conditions for the MPZ and hence favourable growth for the major harvested crops.

Figure 2.1 West Africa MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, October 2020 – January 2021.

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles  b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles  d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (°C)

e. Cropped arable land

f. Biomass accumulation potential departure

g. VHI Minimum

h. Maximum VCI

Note: For more information about the indicators, see Annex B.