The January-April monitoring period covers most of the maize, wheat and rice production. Harvest of maize will be completed in early May. The CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that at the national level, both RAIN and TEMP decreased by about 28% and -0.2ºC, respectively, while RADPAR increased by just 1%. During this period, the decreases recorded in precipitation led to a decrease in the total BIOMSS production by about 17% as compared to the 15-years average.

Nationwide crop conditions were generally below the average as well as below the 5-year maximum during the entire period, as shown by the crop conditions development graph based on the NDVI. With the country recording a decrease in the total CALF (-2%), the overall VCIx during this period was 0.81. However, as can be seen from the spatial distribution map of maximum VCIx, mainly the southwest region registered low VCIx values (less than 0.8). The spatial patterns of VCIx were found to be consistent with those of the spatial NDVI patterns as well as the NDVI profiles. The crop conditions were continuously below the 5-year average in nearly 67% of the cropped area, especially in the southwest. Overall, crop conditions in Angola were not favourable due to severe drought conditions.

Regional Analysis

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

During this monitoring period, precipitation was far below average in all agroecological regions. The largest decreases were registered in the Central Plateau, Arid zone, Sub-humid, and Semi-arid zone with decreases of about 50%, 33%, 31%, and 26% respectively. With the exception of the Central Plateau region, the remaining agroecological regions recorded lower temperatures. Radiation for the Central Plateau and the Sub-humid zone recorded increases by about 5% and 2%, while the radiation in the Arid and Humid zone was near the past 15-years average. The Semi-arid zone was the only region that recorded a decrease in RADPAR (-1%). The total biomass production decreased in all the agroecological zones with the Central Plateau and Arid zones suffering the largest decreases by 30% and 24%, respectively.

The crop conditions development graphs based on NDVI show the crop conditions were unfavorable during the entire monitoring period. However, crop conditions recovered in late April in the Arid, Humid and Semi-arid zones. The agronomic indicators show that apart from the Humid zone (with CALF near average), the remaining regions recorded decreases in CALF with large decreases of about 11% and 10% being observed in the Central Plateau and Arid zones. The maximum VCIx values varied from 0.63 (in the Central Plateau) to 0.94 (in the Humid zone).

Figure 3.6. Angola's crop condition, January-April 2021

(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 3.3. Angola's  agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January – April 2021

Table 3.4. Angola's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, January – April 2021