National analysis

Based on the phenology map of major crops in Angola, the monitoring period from April to July coincides with the final stages of maize and rice harvesting and the ongoing development of wheat, which aligns with the cold season. During this period, agroclimatic indicators showed a 26% decrease in total rainfall as compared to the 15YA. Conversely, both temperature and photosynthetically active radiation increased by 0.5°C and 1%, respectively. These combined factors resulted in a significant 13% reduction in total biomass production. This decline follows a time when overall crop conditions in Angola were generally below average due to a rainfall deficit that occurred during the peak of the growing season, from early February to mid-March. Consequently, starting in early April, at the beginning of the current monitoring period, NDVI-based crop condition anomalies indicated that crop conditions across the country were consistently below the average of the past five years (5YA).

Although the Maximum Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) suggested improved crop conditions in the western region, with a 1% increase, spatial NDVI patterns revealed that only 33.1% of the cropped land maintained conditions close to the five-year average. These areas are primarily located in the provinces of Namibe, Benguela, Cuanza Sul, and Huambo. Despite these challenges, the Crop Production Index (CPI) stood at 1.13. However, all in all, crop conditions can be assessed as below average.

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).

At the regional level, agroclimatic indicators showed below average rainfall across all agroecological zones, with significant reductions of 28% in the Sub-humid zone and 36% in the Humid zone. In these zones, both temperature and photosynthetically active radiation increased, contributing to declines in total biomass production across all regions. The most substantial decreases in biomass were observed in the Sub-humid and Humid zones, with reductions of 10% and 19%, respectively.

Regional crop condition assessments based on NDVI indicated below-average crop conditions throughout the entire monitoring period across all agroecological zones. Despite these challenges, an analysis of agronomic indicators showed a 16% increase in the cropped arable land fraction (CALF), which may have contributed to improved Vegetation Condition Index (VICx) at 0.98.

Figure 3.6 Angola's crop condition, April - July 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

(g) National CPI time series graph

(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)

Table 3.3. Angolas’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April - July 2024 

Table 3.4. Angolas’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, April - July 2024