This report covers the primary growing season of winter wheat and the sowing of maize and rice. Irrigated agriculture is highly developed in Egypt and almost all arable land is irrigated, so rainfall is not the major influential factor. The CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show that the recorded rainfall was 49 mm, 3% less than the average of the last 15-years (15YA). The rainfall index graph shows that most rainfall fell during January and February. The average temperature was 14.6°C, 1.0°C lower than the 15YA. The temperature index graph shows that it was cooler than usual except for late March. Both RADPAR and BIOMSS were lower than the 15YA, respectively, by 2.5% and 8%. The reduction in estimated BIOMSS was presumably due to a decrease in rainfall. The nationwide NDVI development graph shows that the crop conditions fluctuated around the 5-year average (5YA). The NDVI profile map indicates that 33.9% of the cultivated area was above the 5YA, 43% fluctuated around the 5YA, and 23.1% was below the 5YA. The VCIx map indicates that the crop conditions were generally favorable. This finding agrees with the country's VCIx value of 0.82, and the CALF exceeded the 5YA by 2%. 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 crop production: (1) the Nile Delta and the Mediterranean coastal strip, as well as (2) the Nile Valley. In the Nile Delta and Mediterranean coastal strip, the average rainfall was 53 mm, only 1% above the 15YA while in the Nile Valley zone, it was 13 mm, 25% below the 15YA. The temperature for both zones was above the 15YA by 1.0°C and 1.2°C, respectively. In Egypt, most crops are irrigated, so rainfall has little impact on crop production. RADPAR and BIOMSS both deviated below the 15YA by about 3% and 4% for the first zone and by 0.9% and 17% for the second, respectively. The NDVI-based crop condition development graphs show similar conditions for both zones following the national crop development NDVI graph. The VCIx was 0.86 and 0.82 for the first and second zone, respectively, while the CALF exceeded the 5YA by 2% for both zones, indicating average crop conditions.

Figure 3.14 Egypt's crop condition, January-April 2022

(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 2022

Table 3.20 Egypt's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values, and departure from 5YA, January-April 2022