The reporting period (July-October) covers the growth and harvest of the main summer crops: maize and rice. Winter wheat sowing is about to start in early November. The average rainfall was 11 mm which is 61% higher than the 15-year average (15YA). The rainfall profile shows that the rainfall did not exceed 10 mm and it rained mainly at the end of October. The average temperature was higher than the 15YA by 0.2°C. The temperature profile shows that the temperature fluctuated around the 15YA. The RADPAR was lower than the 15YA by 1.3%, while the BIOMSS was at the 15YA. The nationwide NDVI profile was below the 5-year average (5YA) except for August, which was at the 5YA. The NDVI spatial pattern shows that 12.6% of the cultivated area was above the 5YA, 57.5% fluctuated around the 5YA, and 29.9% was below the 5YA. The Maximum Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx) map shows that the condition of the current crops was near average where the dominant VCIx values ranged between 0.50 and 1. This finding agrees with the whole country's VCIx value of 0.71. CALF was higher than the 5YA by only 2%. The nationwide crop production index (CPI) was at 1.13 implying an above-normal crop production situation. In general, the crop conditions were favorable.

Regional Analysis

Based on crop planting systems, climate zones, and topographical conditions, Egypt can be divided into three agro-ecological zones (AEZs), two of which are suitable for crop cultivation. These are the Nile Delta and the southern coast of the Mediterranean and the Nile Valley. The average rainfall was 13 mm (+67%) in the Nile Delta and Mediterranean coast, while the Nile Valley recorded 3 mm (+292%). Since virtually all crops in Egypt are irrigated, the impact of precipitation on crop yield is limited, but additional rainfall is nevertheless always beneficial. The temperature was higher than the 15YA by 0.2°C in the first zone while it was lower than the 15YA by 0.1°C in the second zone. In both zones, the RADPAR was lower than the 15YA by 1% while the BIOMSS was higher than the 15YA by 4% and 7% in the Nile Delta and Nile Valley, respectively. The NDVI development graph was below the 5YA except for August in the first zone where it was slightly above the 5YA. In both zones, CALF exceeded the 5YA by 2%. They also registered good VCIx values at 0.80 and 0.82 for the Nile Delta and Nile Valley, respectively, confirming favorable crop conditions. Cropping Intensity estimates were 186% and 163% for the Nile Delta and Nile Valley, respectively, indicating both regions had a mixture of single and double cropping during the reporting period. In both zones, the CPI was at 1.15 and 1.10, respectively, implying above normal crop production situation following the nationwide CPI.

Figure 3.14 Egypt’s crop condition, July - October 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, July - October 2022

Table 3.20 Egypt’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, July - October 2022