During this reporting period, most cropland was left fallow in Mozambique, since this was the dry winter period. The planting of maize and rice crops in the southern region began in October, marking the start of the season. In general, crop conditions in Mozambique were below to average compared to the previous five years. Rainfall was 3.8% above the 15YA. There were increases in temperature and photosynthetically active radiation, by 0.8°C and 3.8%, respectively.

This condition is supported by the climatic condition which shows that around 11.6% of the cropped land had crop conditions above the five-year average until the beginning of September, rising to around 26.6%, particularly in the coastal zone of the southern provinces of the country as well as in the provinces of Nampula and Zambezia. The Cropped Area Land Fraction (CALF) was below the five-year average, the maximum Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) of 0.78 is moderate, and the Crop Production Index (CPI) as well as the average crop conditions are below average, especially in the central and northern regions. However, the rainy season and thus the main crop productions season was just about to start in October.

Regional Analysis

Based on the national cropping system, topography, and climate, CropWatch has subdivided Mozambique into five agroecological zones (AEZs) including the Buzi basin (140), Northern High-altitude areas (141), Lower Zambezi River basin (142), Northern coast (143), and the Southern region (144).

Total rainfall was low, since this was the dry season.  Significant temperature increases were observed in the Buzi Basin (+1.1°C), the Southern region (+0.7°C), the Low Zambezi River Basin (+0.7°C), and in other areas (+0.6°C). Similarly, photosynthetically active radiation increased across all agroecological zones, with the northern high-altitude areas showing the highest increase of 7%. 

Total biomass production decreased in two agroecological zones. Southern region and Northern coast by 1% and 2% respectively. In the rest of the regions it showed an increase of 2% in the northern high altitude and in the Buzi Basin by 11%. The regional NDVI graph indicated below-average crop conditions across all agroecological zones except for the Southern region. Agronomic indicators showed a decrease in CALF on the Buzi Basin by 6%, the northern high-altitude by 11% and Lower Zambezi River basin by 18% and an increase in the Southern region by 1%. The maximum VCI ranged from 0.67 to 0.88.

(a) Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop conditions development based on NDVI

 (c) Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA.       (e) NDVI departure profiles

(f) National teme-series rainfall profiles  

 (g) National time-series temperature

(h) National crop production index (CPI)

(h) Crop conditions development graph based on NDVI - Busi basin (left), and Northern high-altitude areas (right)

(i) Crop conditions development graph based on NDVI - Lower Zambezi River basin (left), and Northern coast region (right)

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI - Southern region

Table 3.1 Mozambique's agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, July‐October 2024

Table 3.2 Mozambique's  agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departures from 5YA, July‐October 2024