Bulletin

wall bulletin
LebanonMain producing and exporting countries

Authors: zhuweiwei,Ihab | Edit: lirui

This reporting period covers the key growing period of maize and potatoes,  the harvesting period of maize, and the sowing period of wheat and barley in Lebanon. Maize reached maturity in September, the planting of wheat and barley started in October. Based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, the crop conditions in Lebanon were generally average.

The CropWatch agronomic Indicator shows that the Crop Production Index (CPI)in Lebanon was 0.9, down by 0.31 from the past 5YA (ΔCPI -0.31).The average maximum VCI reached a value of 0.72 during this reporting period, the spatial distribution shows that the VCI values between 0.5 and 0.8 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 fluctuated above and below the average level from July to October. These observations are confirmed by the clustered NDVI profiles: 61.6% of regional NDVI values were above average from July to October except for early July and late October, 38.4% 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 30%, which was 4% higher than the 5YA average.

CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that the temperature and RADPAR were slightly above the 15YA average (ΔTemp +0.2℃; ΔRADPAR +1%), the rainfall was significantly below average (ΔRAIN -94%), which led to a decrease in BIOMSS by 15% (ΔBIOMSS -15%). According to the time series rainfall profiles, precipitation was significantly below 15YA average throughout this monitoring period. According to temperature profiles, the temperature was above the average from July to mid-August,then progressively close to average and equal to average from late August to mid-October, while the temperature in October was significantly below the average. 

The start of the winter rainy season was delayed, as there was no rainfall in October. This may have a negative impact on the landpreparation for the winter cereals.



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 30%. It increased by 4% compared to the past 5YA average. The VCIx was 0.72 and the Crop Production Index (CPI) was 0.90, down 0.31 from the average level of the past 5YA (ΔCPI -0.31). As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were generally close to average, equal to average, and slightly below average from July to October. Temperature and RADPAR were both above average (ΔTEMP +0.3; ΔRADPAR +1%),but (ΔRAIN -95%) was below average. Their combined effect decreased BIOMSS by 15% as compared to the average.

Western Coastal Zone is another major crop production zone. The CropWatch agronomic Indicator shows that this region has a moderate  CALF (59%), it increased by 10% compared to the past 5YA average. The VCIx was 0.85 and Crop Production Index (CPI) was 1.04, down 0.17 from the 5YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were above the 5YA in July, even close to the maximum level in the past five years, then close to the average in August, and then fluctuated above and below the average level from late September to October.

The Mountainous region had a  low CALF (29%), it increased by 1% compared to the 5YA average, and the VCIx was 0.71. The Crop Production Index (CPI) was 0.86, down 0.35 from the 5YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were slightly below the average in early July and generally close to the 5YA average from mid-July to mid-October, and then slightly below the average again in late October. RADPAR and temperature were both above average (ΔRADPAR +1%; ΔTEMP +0.2%), while rainfall (ΔRAIN -94%) was significantly below average.  As a result, the BIOMSS was decreased by 19% compared to the average.


Figure XXX. Lebanon’s crop condition, July-October 2024

(a) Phenology of major crops in Lebanon

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

(c) Maximum VCI for the July-October 2024 period

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns for Lebanon up to October 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 July-October 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)

LBN.png

(i) CPI time series graph

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

Region

RAIN

TEMP

RADPAR

BIOMSS

Current
(mm)

Departure
(%)

Current
(°C)

Departure
(°C)

Current
(MJ/m2)

Departure
(%)

Current
(gDM/m2)

Departure
(%)

Mountainous_region

3

-94

22.5

0.2

1458

1

432

-19

Western_Coastal_Zone

3

-91

23.0

-0.6

1446

-0

458

-12

Bekaa_Valley_Zone

2

-95

21.2

0.3

1470

1

424

-20

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

Region

CALF

CI

Maximum VCI

CPI

Current(%)

Departure from 5YA(%)

Current(%)

Departure from 5YA(%)

Current

Current

Mountainous_region

29

1

102

-0.97

0.71

0.86

Western_Coastal_Zone

59

10

106

1.73

0.85

1.04

Bekaa_Valley_Zone

10

-3

108

2.66

0.64

0.89