In South Africa, soybean and maize are the main crops being produced during this monitoring period. In the west, maize planting finished in January and harvest will start in June. In the east, maize harvest started in April. Soybean was grown from January to March and harvest began in April. The proportion of irrigated cropland in South Africa is 9% and agro-meteorological conditions play an important role in the growth of most crops. Water is generally limiting crop production in South Africa. Based on the NDVI development graph, the crop conditions were near or above the 5-year average until the end of March. In April, they dropped to below-average conditions, due to the precipitation deficit. At the national level, the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that TEMP and RADPAR were above the 15-year average (+0.4°C, +5%). Due to the rainfall large deficit (-44%), the BIOMSS decreased significantly by 21% compared to the 15-year average. The VCIx was 0.91. CALF increased slightly (+5%) compared with the last 5 years, indicating good progress with sowing and establishment of the new crops. As to the spatial distribution of NDVI profiles, before April, crop conditions on about 78.7% of the cropland were close to and above average mainly in the central and eastern parts, and on about 21.3%, they were below average. The areas with negative departures were mainly in the western region, located in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Orange Free State Province. The rainfall deficit started to impact growth in April, when NDVI levels dropped to below-average levels, but the drier weather in April helped with crop harvesting.  Overall, crop conditions in South Africa were favorable.

Regional analysis

In the Arid and desert zones (221), RAIN was significantly below average (-42%), whereas RADPAR and TEMP were slightly above average (+2%, +0.2°C). BIOMSS decreased by 13% due to the shortage of rainfall. CALF increased (+9%) and VCIx was 0.86. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI indicates that the crop conditions were generally above and close to the 5-year average in most months. Crop production is expected to be favorable.

In the Humid Cape Fold mountains (222), the TEMP (+0.5°C) and RADPAR (+4%) were above average. Due to insufficient rainfall (-19%), BIOMSS was below the 15-year average (-12%). CALF was 98% and VCIx was 0.93. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI also indicates favorable crop conditions, but the large rainfall deficit started to impact growth in April, when NDVI levels dropped to below-average levels.

In the Mediterranean zone (223), the TEMP and RADPAR were below average (-0.5°C, -4%). The BIOMSS was increased by 4% benefiting from the sufficient rainfall (+21%). CALF was increased significantly (47%, +98%) and VCIx was 1.30. According to the crop condition development graph, the NDVI was above the 5-year average in the entire period and even above 5-year maximum after Feburary, the CPI was 2.43, indicating that crop conditions were generally favorable.

In the Dry Highveld and Bushveld maize areas (224), RAIN (-56%) was significantly below the 15-year average, whereas TEMP and RADPAR were above average (+0.6°C, +7%). The BIOMSS was decreased significantly by 26% due to the insufficient rainfall. CALF increased slightly (99%, +2%) and VCIx was 0.87. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI shows that the NDVI was close to and above the 5-year average for most of the period, and the CPI was 1.06. All in all, the crop conditions were favorable, but the large rainfall deficit started to impact growth in April, when NDVI levels dropped to below-average levels.

Figure 3.47 South Africa's crop condition, January - April 2023

(a) Phenology of the main Crop

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI  

(c) Maximum VCI

(d) Time series rainfall pofile

(e) Time series temperature pofile

(f) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA        (g) NDVI profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI Arid desert (left) and Humid sub-tropical (right)

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI semiarid steppe (left) and Mediterranean (right)

Table3.86 South Africa's agro-climatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January - April 2023

Table3.87 South Africa's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, January - April 2023