In Mozambique, the agricultural season lasts from November to May of the following year. Coinciding with the rainy season, the current monitoring period (January- April 2022) covers the growing stages of rainfed maize and rice crops in the northern region of the country, while in the south, the harvesting of both maize and rice was completed in April. This period also covers the growing stages of wheat, which has its harvesting scheduled for May.

The proportion of irrigated cropland in Mozambique is only 4% and agro-meteorological conditions play a decisive role in the growth of almost all crops. Nationwide, climate adversities played a significant role in crop development. The monsoon season was off to a late start last year, as rain was 30% below the 15YA in the period from October to December. During this monitoring period, the country recorded three tropical storms and cyclones (including Ana, Batsirai and Gombe). These events brought together intensive rains that contributed to the increases recorded in rainfall (RAIN +9%).  The temperature increased by 0.2ºC. Radiation dropped by 2% while the total biomass production was near average.

The effects of the climate adversities (tropical storms and cyclones) are shown by the national crop conditions development graph based on NDVI, in which the crop conditions were below the average of the past five years from early January to late April. This is also confirmed by the spatial NDVI patterns together with the NDVI profiles revealing that nationwide, crop conditions were unfavourable during a major part of the growing season, recovering in late April only.   Provinces of Zambezia, Nampula, Tete and Sofala are the provinces that showed the worst crop conditions. The cropped arable land fractions was near average and the maximum VCI was 0.92. The crop condtions were unfavorable due to erratic rainfall.

Regional analysis

Based on the national cropping system, topography and climate, CropWatch has subdivided Mozambique into five agroecological zones (AEZs) including the Buzi basin (140), Northern High-altitude areas (141), Low Zambezi River basin (142), Northern coast (143), and the Southern region (144).

The regional crop development graphs based on NDVI indicate that the crop conditions were unfavourable in all regions from early January till late April when these conditions started to recover. During the monitoring period, the agroclimatic indicators show decreases in rainfall in the Buzi basin (-22%), Low Zambezi river basin (-1%) and the Southern region (-24%), while significant increases were observed in the Northern high-altitude areas (+11%) and the Northern Coast (+36%). The regions of the Buzi basin and Southern region were warmer, recording increases in temperature by 0.8ºC and 0.6ºC, respectively. Radiation decreased in the Northern high-altitude areas (-2%), Low Zambezi river basin (-3%), and Northern coast (-3%), while it increased in the Southern region by 1%. Influenced by the decreases recorded in rainfall, the total biomass production decreased by 2%, 5% and 7% in the Low Zambezi river basin, Buzi basin and Southern region, respectively. In the Northern high-altitude region and Northern coast, the biomass increased by 3% and 5% respectively.

The agronomic indicators show about average CALF in all agro-ecological regions and the maximum VCI in these regions varies from 0.86 to 0.96. 

Figure 3.32. Mozambique'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) National time-series rainfall profiles                                      (g) National time-series temperature profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI-Buzi basin (left), and Northern high-altitude areas (right)

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI-Lower Zambezi River basin (left), and Northern coast region (right)

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI-Southern region

Table 3.55. Mozambique’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January - April 2022

Table 3.56. Mozambique’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, January - April 2022