This report covers the dry season for Madagascar. Maize harvest was completed by April, following by rice harvest, which ended 2 months later. No other major crops were grown during this monitoring period.

The RAIN was 201 mm, which is a decrease by 13% from the 15-year average (15YA). However, it generally followed the 15YA average trend which shows that the mid June to mid September is the driest period. The TEMP was slightly above average by 0.5°C.  The temperature declined on April and was above of the fifteen-years average from May to July. The RADPAR, which represents the photosynthetically active radiation, was below the average by 1% from the 15YA . The BIOMSS indicator, reflecting the potential for biomass accumulation showed a significant reduction on 14% from the 15YA, which implies lower biomass production due to suboptimal agroclimatic conditions. 

The NDVI-based profiles shows that the NDVI was below the average from April to May but for June and July it was equal to the average. The national average VCIx was 0.89, and in the East of Madagascar, the wettest zone, theVCIx ranged values ranged from 0.8 to 1, which was below the normal value. The Cropped Arable Land Fraction (CALF) was at 98%, with a close to the five-year average (5YA). The current crop production index was 0.96. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI indicates that about 37% of crop areas, mainly in North East region, experienced below average conditions from mid April to June. NDVI values in  most areas accounting for about 59% of the cropland were almost close to average during monitoring period. 

According to the CropWatch indicators of last and this monitoring sesaon, the crop outputs were estimated to be below average.

(a) Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

  (c)  Maximum VCI

  (d)  Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles

(e) CPI time series graph

(f) Rainfall profiles   

(g) Temperature profiles

Table 3.1 Madagascar’s agroclimatic indicators by country, current season’s values and departure from 15YA, April - July 2024

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