The monitoring period covers the sowing of winter wheat and the harvesting of maize. Maize, which is widely cultivated in the country’s northwest and in Mpumalanga, Free state, and KwaZulu-Natal, is the most important crop for South Africa. Crop condition iswell below the average of the recent five years, which indicates a reduced production that is confirmed by the very low maximum VCI of 0.35. The CropWatchagro climatic indicators all point to a decrease in production. Rainfall waswell below average (RAIN, -50%), while temperature (TEMP) was slightly above average (+0.8°C) and radiation (RADPAR) mostly unchanged; all this led to a 42%reduction in biomass production potential compared to the average. Cropped arable land was 10 percentage points below the average of the last five years.As is shown in the NDVI clusters, more than 70% of the agricultural region does not reach average conditions.

Figure3.34. South Africa crop condition, April-July2015

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

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