During this reporting period, the harvest of maize and rice in Angola was concluded by mid-May. Meanwhile, wheat which was sown in May was in its main growth period.  Wheat harvest is expected to be in October. Even with no drought recorded for almost 85% of the country, the agroclimatic indicators during this period were characterized by a drop in rainfall (RAIN -16%) and temperature (TEMP -0.1ºC). The radiation recorded for this period was 1228 MJ/m², an increase of about 1% compared with the past 15 years' average. According to the rainfall profile graph, the 10-day cumulative rainfall was above the 15YA in late April and early May. Estimated biomass was below the 15YA (BIOMSS -16%).

The crop condition development graph for Angola presented below-average crop conditions in early April, mostly influenced by the below-average precipitation recorded during the period. However, these conditions improved in early May till the end of the reporting period. According to the NDVI departure clustering map and profiles, almost 23% of the cropland presented below-average crop conditions throughout the entire monitoring period. Most of these areas are located in Uíge, Huila and Benguela. However, 17% of the croplands showed above-average crop conditions. Provinces such as Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Sul and Bengo are the regions where the better crop conditions were verified. Despite these conditions as well as the decreases in the cropped arable land fraction (CALF -1%), high VCIx values were recorded across the country (0.87), indicating  favorable prospects for the wheat planting regions.  

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 the reporting period, the agroclimatic indicators reveal that three regions, including the Humid, Semi-arid, and Sub-humid zones, recorded lower rainfalls compared to the past fifteen years' average (about 6%, 23% and 16% lower, respectively) . In these regions, the temperature also recorded a drop by 0.1ºC in the Semi-arid and Sub-humid zones and by about 0.3ºC in the Humid zone. Radiation increased by 1% in both Semi-arid and Sub-humid zones while the Humid zone recorded a decrease by 1%. Influenced mostly by the drop in the total precipitation received, the potential biomass in these regions all decreased as expected, by 37%, 23% and 11% in the Humid, Semi-arid, and Sub-humid zones, respectively. Rainfall increased in the Arid zone (RAIN +16%) and Central Plateau (+3%). However, only the Arid zone recorded an increase in temperature by about 0.5ºC while the temperature in the Central Plateau decreased by about 2ºC. Radiation decreased by 2% in the Arid zone and it was near average in the Central Plateau. The potential biomass in both regions was below average, minus 14% in the Arid zone and 13% in the Central Plateau.

Except for the Humid zone, the crop conditions based on NDVI in the remaining zones indicate favourable crop conditions from early May throughout almost the entire monitoring period. Decreases in the cropped arable land fraction (CALF) were recorded in the Arid zone (-1%), Central Plateau (-10%) and Sub-humid zone (-2%). In the Humid zone, CALF was near average of the past five years, while it increased by 1% in the Semi-arid zone. The lower VCIx of 0.77 was recorded in Central Plateau, a region where a significant drop in CALF was observed.

Figure 3.6. Angola's crop condition, April–July 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) Proportion of NDVI anomaly categories compared with 5YA (i) Proportion of VHIm categories compared with 5YA

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI - Arid zone  (left), and Central Plateau (right)

(k) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI - Humid zone (left), and Semi-arid zone (right)

(l) 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, April – July 2021

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