In November, winter wheat harvest in the Mediterranean zone was completed. In the Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize zone, sowing of maize, soybean and millet was completed in December. Other summer crops, such as groundnuts, sunflower and sorghum were at the vegetation stage in different parts of Free State, North West and Northern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West and Gauteng.

Countrywide, the recorded rainfall was 297 mm, 9% above the 15YA. The average temperature of 20.4°C was also higher than the 15YA (+0.2°C). The estimated biomass was 733 gDM/m² (-6%), as radiation was 7% below the 15YA.  CALF was 90 %, an increase of 46% over the 5YA, while the maximum VCI was at 1. The maximum VCI map shows that the crop conditions were favorable in Mpumalanga and Gauteng, Kwazul-Natal and Free states, whereas the poorest conditions were observed for the Eastern Cape. As indicated by the spatial distribution of NDVI profiles, crop conditions were above average in most of the country. All in all, crop conditions were favorable for South Africa.

Regional analysis

South Africa has three main production zones on which the analysis will focus: Mediteranean zone, Humid Cape Fold Mountains zone, and Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize zone.

In the Mediterranean zone, the rainfall was 116 mm (+1%), the temperature reached 18°C (-0.3°C) and the radiation was 1504 MJ/m² (-5%). This resulted in 712 gDM/m² of biomass (-5%). The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was 72%, which was 33% above the 5YA and the maximum vegetation condition index was at 0.99. The NDVI development graph indicates that crop conditions were above the average for the whole period. Above-average yields can be expected from this region.

The Humid Cape Fold mountain zone recorded 380 mm of rainfall (-6%), and the temperature was 19.8 °C (+0.6°C). The observed radiation was 1199 (MJ/m²) (-5%). The estimated biomass was 639 gDM/m² (-6%). The cropped arabe land fraction (CALF) increased to 96% (+6%). For the whole period, the NDVI development graph shows above average vegetation conditions and VCIx was at 0.94.  Conditions were favorable.

In Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize zone, rainfall was 302 mm (+10%) and temperature was 20.7°C (+0.2°C), whereas solar radiation dropped to 1353 MJ/m², a reduction by 8% as compared to the 15YA. Accordingly, the biomass was 747 gDM/m² (-7%). The cropped arable land fraction was 56% above the 5YA.  From October to January, the NDVI profile in this main maize production region was above the 5YA, while the maximum vegetation condition also showed favorable conditions. Conditions were favorable for this zone.

Figure 3.45 South Africa’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

Figure.X Click to edit

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

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI Arid desert (left) and Humid sub-tropical (right)

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI semiarid steppe (left)  and Mediterranean (right)

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

South Africa's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, October 2020 to January 2021