This reporting period covers the completion of the sowing period of barley in January, which had reached the heading stage in late April. Wheat, maize and potato are other important crops which were also grown during this period. The planting of potatoes started in February. Based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, the crop conditions in Lebanon were generally below average before February, then above average from early  February to mid-April, even above the maximum level of the past five years, and then below average again in late April.

　　The CropWatch agronomic Indicator shows that the Crop Production Index (CPI) in Lebanon was 0.98, down by 0.16 from the past 5YA (ΔCPI -0.16). The average maximum VCI reached a value of 0.88 during this reporting period, the spatial distribution shows that the VCI values between 0.8 and 1 account for the largest proportion of the area, and they are distributed throughout Lebanon. As shown in the crop condition development graph and the NDVI profiles at the national level, NDVI values were below average before February, then above average from early  February to mid-April, even above the maximum level of the past five years, and then below average again in late April. These observations are confirmed by the clustered NDVI profiles: 93.3% of regional NDVI values were above average from January to April except for late-January and February; only 6.7% of regional NDVI values were significantly below average throughout this monitoring period.  These observations are confirmed by the lower VCI values shown in the maximum VCI map. CALF during the reporting period was 74%, which was 6 percent higher than the 5YA.

CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that the temperature was above the 15YA (ΔTemp +0.8℃), the RADPAR and the accumulated precipitation were both below average (ΔRADPAR -2%; ΔRAIN -11%), due to the precipitation deficit and slight decrease in solar radiation, the national biomass production potential was average compared to the 15YA average (ΔBIOMSS +0%). According to the time series rainfall profiles, precipitation was significantly above average in late January, and was well below the 15YA average for almost the entire monitoring period, except for slightly above average precipitation in mid-January, mid-February, mid-April and late April; According to temperature profiles, the temperature from early January to mid-April fluctuated above and below the average level, while the temperature in late April was much higher than the average, even higher than the maximum temperature.

　　Overall, crop conditions were average to above average in this monitoring period.

Regional analysis

　　Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, three sub-national agro-ecological regions are adopted for Lebanon. They include: Bekaa Valley Zone (231), Western Coastal Zone (230) and Mountainous region (229).

　　Bekaa Valley Zone is the major crop production zone of Lebanon. The area had a CALF of 45%. It increased by 11% compared to the past 5YA average. The VCIx was 0.83 and the Crop Production Index (CPI) was 0.92, down 0.35 from the average level of the past 5YA (ΔCPI -0.35).  As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were generally below average before early February, then significantly above average from February to mid-April, even close to the maximum level in the past five years, and then below average again after mid-April. Rainfall and radiation were both below average (ΔRAIN -1%; ΔRADPAR -13%), but temperature (ΔTEMP +0.1%) was above average. Their combined effect increased BIOMSS by 1% as compared to the average. 

　　Western Coastal Zone is another major crop zone. The CropWatch agronomic Indicator shows that this region has a high CALF (97%), it increased by 3% compared to the past 5YA average. The VCIx was 0.87 and Crop Production Index (CPI) was 0.78, down 0.21 from the average level of the 5YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were generally below the 5YA average before February,  then significantly above the average from February to early March , even close to the maximum level in the past five years, and then below average again in the April  except for mid-April. Reduction in temperature and radiation were recorded (ΔTEMP -0.9%; ΔRADPAR -13%), but rainfall (ΔRAIN +17%) was significantly above average. Their combined effect increased BIOMSS by 4% as compared to the average. 

　   The Mountainous region had a moderate CALF (78%), it increased by 6% compared to the 5YA, and the VCIx was 0.90. The crop production index of the Mountainous region was 1.12,  which was basically consistent with the 5YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were generally below the 5YA average before February,  then significantly above the average from February to mid-April, even close to the maximum level in the past five years, and then  below average again after mid-April. Rainfall and radiation were both below average (ΔRAIN  -5%; ΔRADPAR -15%), while temperature (ΔTEMP +0%) was equal to average. As a result, BIOMSS is expected to increase by 8% compared to the average. 

Figure XXX. Lebanon’s crop condition, January-April 2024

(a) Phenology of major crops in Lebanon

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the January-April 2024 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

(c) Maximum VCI for the January-April 2024 period

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns for Lebanon up to April 2024 according to local cropping patterns and as compared to the 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles (right)

(e) Time series rainfall profile (left) and temperature profile (right) of Lebanon comparing the January-April 2024 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

(f) Bekaa Valley Zone crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(g) Western Coastal Zone crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(h) Mountainous region crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

(i) CPI time series graph

Table 3.1 Lebanon’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 15YA,  January - April 2024

Table 3.2 Lebanon’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, January - April 2024