The reporting period coincides with the planting and vegetative stages of the main crop in South-Africa: maize. The crop is grown from October over most of the eastern half of the country, together with other coarse grains. November and December is also the planting season for vegetables, fruits, and herbs in the southwestern Mediterranean Cape, as well as the harvesting period for barley and wheat, crops that have been consistently declining in the country over the last decade. Overall, the nationwide condition of crops was better than last year’s for the same reporting period. In the Mediterranean area, rainfall was well below average (RAIN, -61%) but largely compensated by irrigation. Nevertheless, the most unfavorable conditions were observed in the southwestern cape, covering about 11% of cropped areas. The overall rainfall increase for the country (RAIN, +9%) is mostly relevant for the main rainfed maize growing areas where temperature was also very slightly below average and radiation showed an increase of 1%, altogether yielding an average biomass production potential. 

Nationwide (thus including the southwest), VCIx reaches a fair value of 0.79, but generally favorable values (up to 1 and above) occur in most of Orange Free State and North West Province. For more than 75% of cropped areas, NDVI was average or above at the end of January. High NDVI values also occur in the irrigated citrus producing areas of southern Kwa-Zulu Natal. Altogether, the condition of cereals harvested at the end of 2016 in the Mediterranean areas was below average. For the current maize crop in the east and north, prospects are favorable. The final outcome of the season will depend on February rainfall, which is a crucial variable at the time when maize flowers throughout the southern-African region.