During the monitoring period (April-July), winter wheat reached maturity in April and was harvested in May and June. Rice and maize were planted in April and May. No rainfall was recorded during this monitoring period. The average temperature reached 23.8 ℃ (+0.3 ℃). The temperature index graph shows that it fluctuated around the 15YA except for one pulse in early May. The RADPAR was above the 15YA by 1.5%, while BIOMSS was estimated to be below the 15YA by 60%, which can be attributed to the remarkable reduction of rainfall. The CALF was higher than the 5-year average (5YA) by 2%, with the whole country's medium VCIx value was at 0.68. The NDVI spatial pattern shows that only 9.6% of the cultivated area was above the 5YA, 60% fluctuated around the 5YA, and 30.3% was below the 5YA. Overall, the crop conditions were unfavorable.

Regional Analysis

Based on crop planting systems, climate zones, and topographical conditions, Egypt can be divided into three agro-ecological zones (AEZs), two of which are suitable for crop cultivation, namely the Nile Delta and the southern coast of the Mediterranean and the Nile Valley. Rainfall was nearly 0 mm, the temperature was above the 15YA by 0.4 ℃ and 0.5 ℃, the RADPAR was above the 15YA by 1.5%, and 1.2%, while the BIOMSS was below the 15YA by 57%, and 74% for the Nile Delta and the southern coast of the Mediterranean and the Nile Valley, respectively. Generally, the NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions were below average in both regions, confirming unfavorable crop conditions.

Figure 3.14 Egypt'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) 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, April-July 2021

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