This report covers the main growing season of winter wheat and the sowing of maize and rice. The CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show that the recorded rainfall was 38 mm, which is 27% less than the average of the last 15-years (15YA). The rainfall index graph shows that most of the rainfall fell during January and February. The average temperature was at 15.8°C, 0.3°C higher than the 15YA. It was warmer than usual in January and February.  Both RADPAR and BIOMSS were lower than the 15YA, by 0.2% and 25%, respectively. The reduction in estimated BIOMSS was presumably due to a decrease in rainfall. The nationwide NDVI development graph shows that the crops conditions were initially above the 5-year average (5YA) and then dropped below the 5YA in March. The NDVI profile map indicates that about 8.8% of cultivated area was above the 5YA, 63.2% was above the 5YA during January and February and then dropped  to  near to the 5YA, 21.8% was below the 5YA except for the beginning of January, and 6.2% was below the 5YA throughout the reporting period. The VCIx map indicates that the crop conditions were generally favorable. This finding agrees with the country's VCIx value at 0.81, and the CALF exceeded the 5YA by 3%. Crop conditions for Egypt were average.

Regional Analysis

Based on the cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, Egypt is subdivided into three agro-ecological zones (AEZ). Only two are relevant for crops: the Nile Delta and the Mediterranean coastal strip, and the Nile Valley. In the Nile Delta and Mediterranean coastal strip, the average rainfall was 40 mm, which was 25% below the average; in the Nile Valley zone, it was 6 mm only, which was 62%  below the 15YA. The temperature for both zones was near the 15YA. In Egypt, most of the crops are irrigated, so rainfall has little impact on crop production. RADPAR deviated by only about -1% and +1% compared to the 15YA for the first and second zone, respectively. The NDVI-based crop condition development graphs show similar conditions for both zones following the national crop development NDVI graph. The CALF exceeded the 5YA by 3% for both zones; the VCIx was 0.84 and 0.86 for the first and second zone, respectively, indicating good crop conditions.

Figure 3.14 Egypt’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) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Nile Delta (left) and Nile Valley (right))

(g) Time series profile of rainfall                                                                 （h）Time series profile of temperature

Table 3.19 Egypt's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January-April 2021

Table 3.20 Egypt's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, January-April 2021