During the monitoring period, winter wheat reached maturity in April and was harvested in May and June. Rice and maize planting started in April. Total rainfall was 3 mm, lower than the 15-year average (15YA). The rainfall index graph shows that rainfall exceeded 15YA during April, late May, and the first dekad of June. The average temperature was 25.3℃. It was 1.6ºC higher than the 15YA. Temperatures exceeded the 15-year maximum during June and July. Both RADPAR and BIOMSS were below the 15YA by 1% and 30%. Generally, the nationwide NDVI development graph indicates that the crop conditions were below 5YA during the monitoring period. The NDVI spatial pattern shows that 44.9% of the cultivated area was above 5YA and 55.2% fluctuated around 5YA. The CALF was at the 5-year average (5YA) and VCIx was at 0.70. The nationwide crop production index (CPI) was at 0.94. Overall, the crop conditions were normal.

Regional Analysis

Based on crop planting systems, climate zones, and topographical conditions, Egypt can be divided into three agroecological zones (AEZs), two of which are suitable for crop cultivation: the Nile Delta and the southern coast of the Mediterranean (area identified as 60 in the crop condition clusters map) and the Nile Valley (61).

The Nile Delta and the southern coast of the Mediterranean: Rainfall was lower than the 15YA by 43 mm, while the temperature was above the 15YA by 1.6℃. The RADPAR was below the 15YA by 1%, while the BIOMSS was at the 15YA. The NDVI-based crop condition development graph shows similar conditions following the national crop development NDVI graph. The CALF was at the 5YA and the VCIx was 0.70. The crop production index (CPI) was at 0.93, implying a close to normal crop production situation.

The Nile Valley: No rainfall was recorded for this zone. The temperature was above the 15YA by 1.2℃. RADPAR was 1% below the 15YA.  The NDVI-based crop condition development graph shows similar conditions as the long-term trend. The CALF was lower than the 5YA by 1% and the VCIx was 0.79. The crop production index (CPI) was at 0.94, implying a close to normal crop production situation.

14 Egypt'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 profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Nile Delta (left) and Nile Valley (right))

(g) Time series profile of rainfall (h) Time series profile of temperature

Table 3.19 Egypt's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2024

Table 3.20 Egypt's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, April-July 2024