The monitoring period cover the growing season of white maize, the main staple in Zambia. 

At the national scale, rainfall and temperature were slighly below average  (RAIN -6%, TEMP -0.7℃) and sunshine measured by RADPAR was up 1%. Crop condition was slightly below average. 

The spatial NDVI  patterns show that Central, Southern and Eastern Provinces experienced a sharp decline in condition in the middle stages of growth. They represent about 20% of the cropped area and are the grain basket of the country. The observation is probably coupled with the agricultural drought that occurred in some of these areas. However, this was offset later when rains returned and even  led to floods in certain areas. In the Southern and Western Provinces (representing about 15% of the cropped areas) severe conditions prevailed that could lead to poor yields and worsen local food insecurity.

Compared to the 5YA, CALF remained unchanged and accumulated biomass fell 2%.  A drop in production is anticipated in most smallholder farms that were affected by the unfavourable rainfall patterns and armyworm attacks. Altogether, CropWatch estimates that the maize production will not vary significantly compared with 2017.

Figure 3.35. Zambia crop condition, January-April 2018 

(a) Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                  (c) Maximum VCI

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