The present reporting period covers from October last year up to January. It was a harvesting time for irrigated rice while rainfed rice harvesting was finalized in October. It was also harvesting time for millet, sorghum and main season of maize in the southern parts. Across the country, the rainfall received this period was 124mm (reduction of 34% from 15YA) and the temperature was 25.4°C (with 0.5 of departure). The radiation was 1212 MJ/m² with 3 % less to 15YA while the observed biomass was 312 gDM/m2 (-8 % less to the average). The cropped land was 90 (+ 7% departure compared to 5YA) and the vegetation condition was at 0.96.  NDVI development graph showed that the crop condition was close to the average during the whole period and the maximum vegetation condition map indicates non-stress condition of crops in different of parts of the country.

Regional analysis

Nigeria has four agro-ecological zones, the Sudano-Sahel which is the driest zone located in the north, in the center we have the Guinea savanna, derived savanna and lastly humid forest zone in the south.

The Sudano-Sahelian zone the observed rainfall was 4 mm with reduction of 75 % from 15YA, temperature of 25.3°C with 0.9°C increase compared to 15YA and 1206(MJ/m²) of radiation decreased 4 from the 15YA. These climate conditions resulted to the biomass of 111 gDM/m2 (- 19% of departure from 15YA) while the cropped land was 76% with 30% of increase while the VCIx was at its maximum. The NDVI graph shows that from October up to January, NDVI values were closer to the average for the whole period.

In the Guinean savanna, this period the recorded precipitation was 27mm with 49 % less compared to the 15 years average; the temperature of 24.5°C was observed with 0.4°C departures compared to the 15 YA. The radiation was 1253(MJ/m²) (3% decrease from the 15 YA, subsequently, the biomass was 191 gDM/m2 (-24 % of departure from 15YA), the cropped land was 98 (with 0 departure compared to 15YA).  Vegetation condition index was at 0. 93. Based on the NDVI development graph, from October the values were slightly below the average for the whole period.

In Derived savanna zone the rain was 102mm (-49% decrease from the 15 YA), the temperature was 25.7°C (+0.5°C of departure from 15YA) and the radiation was 1222 (MJ/m²) -2 % departure compared to 15 YA. These agro-climatic conditions brought the biomass to 481 gDM/m2 with 6 % decrease compared to the 15YA. The cropped land was at 99(zero departure), and the vegetation condition index was 0. 91. NDVI profile graph shows that values were below the average till December but come closer to the average in the beginning of January.

The humid forest zone rainfall was 443 mm (19 % below the 15YA average), the temperature was 26.2°C temperatures (0.3°C departure compared to 15YA) and the radiation of 1139 also decreased by 3 % compared to the 15YA. The biomass of 745(+4% departure from 15YA and the cropped land fraction (CALF) was 98% with zero departure from 5YA. The vegetation condition index (VCIx) in the region was at 91. The crop development graph based on NDVI indicates below-average crop conditions during the entire monitoring period. 

Figure 3.33 Nigeria's crop condition, October 2020-January 2021

(a)   Phenology of main Crop

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                (c) Maximum VCI

(d) Rainfall index                                                                   (e) Temperature index

(f) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                    (g) NDVI profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Soudano Sahelian region (left) and Guinean savanna (right))

(i)  Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (derived Savanna (left) and Humid forest zone (right)

Table 3.55 Country agro-climatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, October 2020 to January 2021

Table 3.56 Country agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures, 15YA, October 2020 to January 2021