From July to October 2023, onion and potato plantations were in active growth and maturation stages in Mauritius. By the end October 2023, harvest of the two crops neared completion. In the case of pineapple harvest of mature fruits was ongoing together with new plantations started, as per land availability. Moreover, in some regions of the island, the sowing of onion March started.

In general, the overall crop conditions during the period in Mauritius were slightly above average, based on agro-climatic and agronomic indicators recorded for the quarter. Actually, the rainfall and temperature figures recorded during the past four months did not exactly reflect the usual pattern for the season. Hence, even if the mean of 121 mm rainfall received during July 2023 was within the normal range for the Winter season in Mauritius, August 2023 on its side was by far wetter than the long term mean, with 130% rain received during that specific month.  However, September and October 2023 were drier than the norm with only 56% and 74% rainfall received respectively, compared to the long term average.  The bulletin of the Mauritius Meteorological Services for the month of August 2023 mentions that it was equally a very warm month. Consequently, on the whole, the fourth quarter of 2023 recorded a high departure of +34% in rainfall  in comparison to average figures for the last 15 years and it was even warmer by  1.2^oC. The amount of sunshine received was equally higher with a mean RADPAR (+7%). 

The humid August month promoted onion and potato growth and development, while the warm and dry days during September and October were highly favorable for potato. At the same time the latter helped the NDVI reach the season`s average. This is illustrated in the Crop condition classification table where up to 90% crops benefitted from favourable conditions for crop growth.nd onion harvests. The 100% CALF and maximum VCI of 0.92 were equally conducive for crop production and a promising yield. Cropping intensity was below average (-4%). 

In conclusion, it can be said that although agro climatic indicators during period under review deviated slightly from the norm, the anomaly was actually favorable to an improved quality of potato, onion, and pineapple produced during the season. Prospects for crop production during the next quarter of the year will depend on amount of rainfall received in November 2023 and the status of pests and diseases at the field level.

Figure 3.1 Mauritius’s crop condition, July – October 2023

(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) Temperature profiles

(g) Rainfall profiles   

Table 3.1 Mauritius’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, July 2022 - October 2023

Table 3.2 Mauritius’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, July - October 2023