Bulletin

wall bulletin
MauritiusMain producing and exporting countries

Authors: mazh,arty | Edit: lirui

Mauritius: Main Producing and Exporting countries

 

Mauritius Crop Conditions: July to October 2024

 

The four months under review, that is July to October 2024 coincided with the peak production season for onion and potato. However, the period was less favourable for pineapple production, since  the cooler Winter months affected fruit development.


In this context, the agro-climatic conditions that prevailed from July to October 2024 deviated from the norm, as per the official figures published by the Mauritius Meteorological Services. Thus, the month of July 2024 was the driest July since 1960, and the mean rainfall of 48 mm recorded during the month represented only 36% of the long-term mean. The dry spell extended to months of August and September 2024. August 2024 was equally rain deficient with only 56% of long term mean rainfall received, while September 2024 was the driest over the last 30 years with 46% of the long-term mean received. However, October 2024  recorded as an excessively wet month with 130% of long-term mean rainfall recorded. This definitely indicates a change in the rainfall profile for the 4th quarter of the year. Consequently, the cummulative amount of rain recorded over the last four months departed from the 15YA by only -1% with a total of 147.5 mm rain received across the island. Thus, wherever possible, cultivated lands had to be irrigated to support ongoing onion and potato plantations during the rain deficient months, while the wet conditions observed in October caused some inconvenience during potato harvest. This equally increased the risk of tuber rot under storage conditions. 


As for temperatures recorded during the season, the mean temperature of 22.5 oC observed was quite in line with the season, even if July 2024 was the second warmest since 1960 with a mean maximum temperature  of departure of + 1.0oC compared to the long-term mean while the mean minimum temperature was -0.3 oC lower than the long-term mean, based on official data published by the local Meteorological Station. Furthermore, there were reductions both in RADPAR and Biomass by 4.2% and 11.1% respectively. Still, a highly satisfactory score of 0.896 was recorded as maximum VCI during for the previous quarter.


In conclusion, it can be said that despite the irregular rainfall pattern observed during the past 4 months, crop production was ongoing satisfactorily.


  • Mauritius Crop Conditions July to October 2024

a. Phenology Map for crops monitored

                                                                                                a. Phenology Map for crops monitored




Figure {1.1}: Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

    Figure {1.2}: Time series Rainfall profile












Figure {1.3}: Time series Temperature profile



Figure {1.4} Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles


Figure {2.1} NDVI Departures last 15 YA





Figure {2.2} Maximum VCI



Mauritius   Agroclimatic Indicators, overall country, current season`s values and   departures from 15YA, July to Oct 2024

 AEZ

CODE

CODE

COUNTRY NAME

RAIN

TEMPERATURE

RADPAR

BIOMASS

235

MUS

Mauritius

Current  (mm)

Departure 

        (%)

Current  (oC)

Departure (oC)

Current (MJ/m2)

Departure (%)

Current (gDM/m2)

Departure (%)

147.519

-0.385437053

22.503

0.04758

1062.21

-4.20953

700.186

-11.0772


Mauritius Agronomic   Indicators, overall country, current season`s values and departures from 15YA, July to Oct 2024

Cropped Arable Land   Fraction

Maximum VCI   Intensity

Cropping Intensity


Current (%)

Departure (%)

Current

Current

Departure


99.2971

0.293577

0.895509

120

1.351351351