Over the reporting period of October 2015 to January 2016, cereals andtubers were harvested throughout the West Africa MPZ, with small spatialdifferences in harvest times conditioned by latitude and elevation (e.g. in thecase of Guinea). Conditions in the MPZ as a whole were close to average withrainfall exceeding average by 9% and fluctuating but generally below averagetemperature (-0.9°C); the biomass production potential is close to average(-1%). CALF, at 83%, was average as well for this MPZ.

Guinea and Guinea-Bissau are the only countries in the MPZ whereagroclimatic conditions significantly departed from average, both withprecipitation departures reaching +32% and +126%, respectively. This wasaccompanied by below average temperature (close to -1.5°C) and sunshine butnevertheless an increased biomass production potential (+23% and +76%,respectively). All other countries underwent a slight drop in biomassproduction potential (around -10%) when compared to the most recent five years,with the exception of Sierra Leone, where expectations are approximatelyaverage.

The spatial distribution of rainfall, maximum VCI and minimum VHI allconcur in presenting a spatially coherent picture with favourable conditions inthe north of the MPZ and some water stress increasing towards the south. Thiscorresponds to a weakening of the final stages of the rainy season where thisseason is long (in the west and east of the region), or a delay and weakeningof the short rainy season in the central areas (in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, forexample). This is consistent with a slower than usual southward movement of theinter-tropical convergence zone away from the Sudano-Sahelian north.

Altogether, there is no reason for concern about the condition ofcereals and the (dominant) roots and tubers in the West African MPZ. Indicatorsare shown in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1. West Africa MPZ:Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, October 2015-January 2016