Harvest of winter crops(wheat and barley) is currently underway, while planting of summer crops (maize and rice) has started. As virtually all crops are irrigated, rainfall plays avery minor part in the outcome of Egyptian agricultural production. The RAINindicator over agricultural areas dropped by a significant value of 17%compared to average, while RADPAR fell 1% and temperature was just slightly below average (-0.6°C). National NDVI values were below the recent five-yearaverage throughout the season and generally comparable to their values in2013-14, in agreement with a stable CALF value. Values for the maximum VCI(0.75) and BIOMSS (+9%) both indicate a season very comparable with the previousone (and thus a “good average year”) with some differences, such as the some what less favorable conditions in the eastern Delta.

Figure3.11. Egypt crop condition, January-April2015

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

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