During the monitoring period, the first season crops (maize and rice) reached the flowering stages in Angola in January. Simultaneously, the harvesting of wheat was completed in October. The crop conditions were significantly impacted by below-average rainfall (ΔRAIN -22%), particularly in October, November, and December 2023, which are critical months for crop establishment. Other agroclimatic indicators, such as temperature and photosynthetic active radiation, also contributed to the below-average crop conditions during these months. The temperature increased by 1.2ºC, and the photosynthetic active radiation increased by 4% compared to the average of the past fifteen years. As a result, there was a slight decrease in total biomass production (ΔBIOMSS -9%). 

The crop conditions development graph based on NDVI showed that nationwide crop conditions were below the average of the past five years from October 2023 to the second decade of December 2023, but recovered to above-average conditions in the last decade of December 2023 until the end of the monitoring period.

Spatial NDVI patterns compared to the past five years' average indicate that good crop conditions were observed in 57.2% of the country from December 2023 to January 2024. The regions with the best crop conditions were those located along the western provinces (Cunene, Huila, Benguela, Luanda, Zaire, and Cuanza Norte). With a cropped arable land fraction of 98%, the maximum vegetation index observed was 0.96. Similarly, better vegetation conditions were observed in the eastern provinces. With a Crop Production Index (CPI) of 1.20, the crop production prospects in Angola are favourable.

Regional Analysis

Considering the cropping systems, climate zones, and topographic conditions, CropWatch has divided Angola into five agroecological zones (AEZs), including the Arid zone (5), Central Plateau (6), Humid zone (7), Semi-arid zone (8), and Sub-humid zone (9).

Regionally, the agroclimatic indicators reveal that, apart from the Arid zone, which registered an increase in rainfall (ΔRAIN +10%), the remaining regions observed decreases: 39% in the Central Plateau, 33% in the Semi-arid zone, 18% in the Sub-humid zone, and 8% in the Humid zone. In all agroecological zones, temperatures recorded increases ranging from 0.8ºC in the Arid zone and Humid zone to 1.6ºC in the Semi-arid zone. Similar patterns were also observed in photosynthetic active radiation, with increases in all zones, with the Arid zone and Sub-humid zone recording the highest increases of 4%. In contrast, total biomass production recorded a significant decrease in the Semi-arid zone of 14%. Decreases in total biomass production were also observed in the Central Plateau (7%) and Sub-humid zone (5%). Total biomass production increased by 1% and 2% in the Humid zone and Arid zone, respectively.

The regional crop conditions development graph based on NDVI indicates a similar crop condition behavior in all agroecological zones, with crop conditions below average in the early stages of crop development (especially in October and November), recovering in late December and remaining above average until the end of the reporting period. CALF in the agroecological regions varied from 91% in the Arid zone to 100% in the Humid zone. During the same period, the Arid zone observed a CPI of 2.01, mostly influenced by the agroclimatic conditions observed in this region.

Figure 3.6 Angola's crop condition, October 2023 - January 2024

(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 departure profiles

(g) Rainfall profiles                                    (f) Temperature profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Arid zone (left) and Central Plateau (right))

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Himid zone (left) and Semi-arid zone (right))

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Subhumid zone)

(k)  CPI time series graph (Natianal (left) and Arid zone (right))

(l)  CPI time series graph (Central Plateau (left) and Semi-arid zone (right))

(m)  CPI time series graph (Subhumid zone)

Table 3.3 Angola’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values, and departure from 5YA, October 2023-January 2024

Table 3.4 Angola’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values, and departure from 5YA, October 2023 - January 2024