National Analysis

During the April-July monitoring period, maize and rice harvest were concluded. The sowing of wheat took place in May. In Angola, the proportion of irrigated cropland area is 1.9%, and therefore, crop production mainly depends on rainfall.  Compared to the past fifteen years' average, both rainfall and temperature were low (RAIN -10% and TEMP -0.3%). Photosynthetic active radiation was near average. Together, these agroclimatic conditions led to a decrease in the total biomass production (BIOMSS -4%).

The crop conditions development graph based on NDVI indicates below-average crop conditions during the entire monitoring period, influenced by the low amount of rains registered nationwide (RAIN = 171 mm). This situation is also confirmed by the spatial NDVI patterns compared to the 5YA and the NDVI profiles, in which on only 34.7% of arable land, crop conditions were above the average, mostly distributed in the provinces of Cuando Cubango, Cunene and Huila. Below-average crop conditions were observed for the provinces of Namibe, Benguela, Cuanza Sul, Bengo, Luanda and Zaire.  The cropped arable land fraction increased by 1% compared to the recent 5YA while the maximum VCI was 0.89. Even with the Crop Production Index (CPI) slightly higher than 1 (improving situation), in general, the crop conditions development in Angola was unfavorable. 

Regional Analysis

Considering the cropping systems, climate zones and topographic conditions, CropWatch has divided Angola into five agroecological zones (AEZs): Arid zone (5), Central Plateau (6), Humid zone (7), Semi-arid zone (8) and Sub-humid zone (9).

Regionally, the crop conditions development graphs based on NDVI indicate below-average crop conditions compared to the past fifteen years’ average in all agro-ecological zones. Also, all the agro-ecological zones registered drops in rainfall, with the highest drop (RAIN -16%) recorded in the Semi-arid zone. A considerable decrease in temperature was observed for the Arid zone (TEMP -0.6ºC). The photosynthetic active radiation increased by about 3%, 4% and 8% in the Central Plateau, Sub-humid zone and Humid zone, respectively.

Except for the Central Plateau (BIOMSS +2%), the total biomass production in the remaining regions recorded decreases varying from 1% to 2% compared to the past 15YA. The CALF in the Arid zone decreased by 1%. In the Central plateau it increased by 1% while in the remaining zones it was near the average of the past five years. The Arid zone recorded a relatively low VCIx (0.79) while the highest VCIx (0.92) for this period was recorded in the Semi-arid zone. The APSI was low (0.7) in the Arid zone, while in the remaining regions it was at a normal level. 

Figure 3.6. Angola's crop condition, April-July 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

(g) National time-series temperature profiles                                       (f) National time-series rainfall profiles

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

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

(k) 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 2022

Table 3.4. Angola’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, April-July 2022