This reporting period covers the main growing stage of wheat. Maize planting started in February. The CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show that the recorded rainfall was 292 mm, 36% above the last 15-year average (15YA). The rainfall index graph shows that the rainfall was well distributed across the reporting period. The average temperature was near the 15YA. RADPAR was slightly lower than the 15YA by 3.8%. All of these indicators lead to incease of BIOMSS by 11%. The nationwide NDVI crop development graph shows that the crop conditions were initially around the 5-year average (5YA) and then improved to above-average conditions in March and then declined to 5YA conditions in April. The NDVI profile map indicates that about 57.4% of cultivated areas were above the 5YA, 31% fluctuated around the 5YA, and 11.2% were below the 5YA. The VCIx was at 0.88, and the CALF exceeded the 5YA by 19%. Conditions for wheat production were favorable.

Regional analysis

Based on the cropping system, climatic zones and topographic conditions, Morocco is subdivided into four agro-ecological zones (AEZ). Only three are relevant for crops: Sub-humid northern highlands including central Centre-Nord Region and northern Centre-Sud, Warm semiarid zone covering the regions of North-Oriental and the broad Tensift Region, and Warm sub-humid zone of the Nord-Ouest Region. The agroclimatic indicators for the three AEZs show an increase in rainfall (43%, 22% and 41%, respectively) while the temperature was close to the 15YA. RADPAR was were slightly below the 15YA (RADPAR: -5%, -3% and -5%) in the three zones.All of these indicators lead to an above-average BIOMSS(BIOMSS: 16%, 9% and 16%). The NDVI-based crop condition development graphs show similar conditions for the three zones following the national crop development NDVI graph. The CALF was above the 5YA (17%, 33% and 9%, respectively) with good VCIx (0.90, 0.87 and 0.88, respectively) in the three zones, implying favourable crop conditions.

Figure 3.44 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 (Sub-humid northern highlands) and (g). Warm semiarid zone ) 

(h) . Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, Warm subhumid zone

(i) Time series profile of rainfall                                                                 （j)Time series profile of temperature

Table 3.45 Morocco’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January-April 2021

Table 3.46 Morocco's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, January-April 2021