This report covers crop conditions for maize and rice in Nigeria from April to July. In the northern area, main maize was sown in May and June. It will reach maturity in August and September.  In the southern area, maize was sown in April and started to reach maturity in June/July. The rainfed rice was sown in April, whereas irrigated rice was predominantly sown in May. 

The CropWatch agroclimatic indicators showed that the rainfall was below the 15YA (-14%), with a few exceptions: Only in the middle of April and the middle and late July, rainfall was above 15YA. The average temperature was higher than the 15YA (+0.2℃) while the RADPAR was below the 15YA (-0.4). Due to the decline of rainfall, the BIOMSS was below the 15YA (-5%).  

The proportion of irrigated cropland in Nigeria is only 0.4%, almost all the crops are rainfed. The below-average rainfall evidently limited crop production.

According to the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the NDVI of the country was below the 5YA during all of this period, especially in June and July. The maximum VCI graph showed that the northwest was generally doing better than the northeast. In the south, conditions were average.  As shown in the spatial NDVI profiles and distribution map, 33.3% of the total cropped areas were near the 5YA during the whole period mainly in the northern, 40% of the total cropped areas were below the 5YA from March to the end of June but reached above the 5YA in the southern area in July. Overall, the crop conditions in most areas were below the average during this monitoring period. Especially the northeast seems to have been affected by drought conditions. 

Regional Analysis

The analysis focuses on four major agroecological zones in the country, i.e., Sudan-Sahel savanna(148) region across the northern region, Guinea savanna(146) and Derived savanna(145) within the central region and Humid forest(147) situated towards the southern region.

The Sudan-Sahel savanna zone is located in northern Nigeria. The agro-climatic condition showed that rainfall decreased by 1% and the overall temperature was near the 15YA (+0.03℃). RADPAR decreased by 2%. The BIOMSS was below the 15YA (-3%). The CALF was 51% and the maximum VCI was 0.71. According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions in the zone were near the 5YA from April to May and below the 5YA from June to July.

The Guinea savanna region is predominantly located in the central region of the country. Compared to the 15YA, TEMP increased by 0.4℃, RAIN decreased by 12%, RADPAR decreased by 1%, and BIOMSS was below the 15YA (-6%). The CALF was 86% and the maximum VCI was 0.76.  According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions in the region were near average from April to May and below average from June to July.

The Derived savanna region is a transition zone between the Guinea savanna and Humid forest zones. Rainfall increased by 10% and the temperature increased by 0.2℃. Compared to the 15YA, RADPAR increased by 1%  and BIOMSS decreased by 5%. The CALF was 98% and the maximum VCI was 0.90. According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions in the region were below the average in most of the monitoring period.

The Humid forest zone is in the southern area of the country. The rainfall decreased by 20% and the average temperature was near the 15YA (-0.02℃). The RADPAR increased by 1% and the BIOMSS decreased by 5%. The CALF was 98% and the maximum VCI was 0.91. According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions in the zone were below average.

Figures 3.33 Nigeria'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 pattern compared to 5YA and NDVI profiles                   (e)NDVI profiles

(f) Time series temperature profile                                                   (g) Time series rainfall profile

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Left:Sudan-Sahel savanna, Right: Guinean savanna)

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI(Left:Derived savanna, Right:Humid forest)

Table 3.58 Nigeria's agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA. April-July 2022

Table 3.59 Nigeria's agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA. April-July 2022