In South Africa, soybean and maize are the main crops being produced during this monitoring period. In the west, maize planting finished in January and harvest will start in June. In the east, maize harvest started in April.  Soybean was grown from January to March and harvest began in April.

Based on the NDVI development graph, the crop conditions were near the 5-year maximum at the beginning of this monitoring period. It subsequently started to decline to below 5YA levels in April.  At the national level, the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators showed that RAIN and TEMP were close to the 15-year average. With a slightly lower RADPAR (-2%), the BIOMSS decreased by 11% compared to the 15-year average. The VCIx was 0.93, and CALF increased by 6% compared with the last 5 years. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) increased by 6%. According to the maximum vegetation condition index (VCIx), conditions in the eastern region were better than in the southern region. As to the spatial distribution of NDVI profiles, crop conditions in about 40.3% of the cropland were above average and about 8.9% of the area was below average during the whole monitoring period. The areas with negative departures were mainly in the center of the eastern region. Overall, crop conditions were favorable.

Regional analysis

RAIN in the Arid and desert zones was above average (135 mm, 18%). With average TEMP (20.5 °C, -0.2°C) and RADPAR (1280 MJ/m², -3%), BIOMSS was reduced by 5%. CALF increased substantially (+17%) and VCIx was 0.81. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI indicates that initially highly favorable conditions developed into average conditions staring in February. Crop production is expected to be normal

In the Humid Cape Fold mountains, TEMP was near average (19.7 °C, +0.1 °C). With below-average RAIN (320mm, -7%) and RADPAR (1110 MJ/m², -2%), BIOMSS was below the 15-year average (-11%). CALF was 95% and VCIx was 0.93. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI also indicated above-average conditions.

In the Mediterranean zone, TEMP was near (19.3 °C, -0.1 °C), while below-average conditions were observed for RAIN (96 mm, -3%) and RADPAR (1247 MJ/m2, -5%). Estimated BIOMSS was reduced by 9%. CALF increased substantially (24%, +22%) and VCIx was 0.77. According to the crop condition development graph, the NDVI was above the 5-year average for most of the period. Crop conditions were near average.

In the Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize areas, all agroclimatic indicators were close to the 15-year average: RAIN(244 mm, +1%), TEMP (19.1 °C, -0.4°C) and RADPAR (1235 MJ/m2, -2%). BIOMSS was reduced by 11%. CALF was above the 5YA (99%, +7%) and VCIx was 0.95. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI indicated similar conditions as in the Arid and Desert zones, which had developed from above-average to below-average condtions starting in March.  Crop conditions were normal.

Figure3.45 South Africa's crop condition, January – April 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 Arid desert (left) and Humid sub-tropical (right)

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

Table3.79 South Africa's agro-climatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, 

January – April 2021

Table3.80 South Africa's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, January – April 2021