Bulletin

wall bulletin
West AfricaCrop and environmental conditions in major production zones

Authors: 超级管理员 | Edit: zhuliang

The reporting period covers the end of the main rainy season in the northern Sahelian areas and the onset of the main rainy season throughout the region's south. The main agricultural activities include sowing cereals (maize, sorghum, millet, and rice) under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Tuber crops such as yam were being harvested, while rice harvest is expected to extend into December and January. The first maize crop in southern Nigeria with bimodal rainfall was harvested in October while cassava was still growing, contributing to the cropped arable land as reflected by the CALF (97%, +0%). The agroclimatic indicators show below-average rainfall (RAIN 792 mm, -16%), average temperature (TEMP 24.7°C, down 0.1°C), and sunshine (RADPAR 1045 MJ/m2, - 4%), resulting in a decrease in biomass production potential (BIOMSS 1212 g DM/m2, -7%) with generally negative departures in indicators observed throughout the MPZ. The estimated regional average maximum VCI was 0.92, indicating generally moderate favorable crop growth conditions, with minimum VHI indicating moderate to severe drought stress throughout the region. The average cropping intensity index observed in the MPZ was at 128, down 1% (CI = 200 in the coastal area and CI=100 in the northern region). These CropWatch indicators show stable climatic conditions for the MPZ and favorable prospects for 2022 crops.

Figure 2.1 West Africa MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, July– October 2022.


a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles  b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (mm)

e. Maximum VCI

f. Cropped and uncropped arable land 

g. Potential biomass departure from 5YA


h. VHI Minimum

i. Cropping intensity (2021)