2.2 West Africa

In the north, the reporting period marks the end of the main rainy season and the harvest of main rainfed cereals (maize, sorghum, millet, and rice) and yam, as well as the sowing of irrigated rice. In the south of the MPZ (covering southern Côte d'Ivoire to Nigeria) which receives bi-modal rainfall, harvesting of yams is underway and cassava is still growing; the second maize crop was planted and is growing, as reflected in the CALF map. In the west (Guinea to Liberia), the harvest of rice extends into December and sometimes even January.

Based on CropWatch observations, average rainfall was 890 mm over croplands of the MPZ, corresponding to an increase of +5% compared to average. National values varied from 850 mm (+2% in Nigeria) and 1558 mm (+16% in Guinea Bissau. The MPZ had close to average temperature (26.2°C, -0.4°C) and sunshine (RADPAR -3%) which gave a slight decrease of the biomass production potential (BIOMSS -2% ). The MPZ as a whole had a cropped arable land fraction (CALF) reaching 100% as it was the main growing season in this region. Currently precipitation has subsided, and plant growth can only be supported through irrigation. According to the VCIx map the average value was above 0.91.

Generally, the climatic conditions were conducive for plant growth with precipitation well distributed in time throughout the region. The temperature fluctuated around average within a +/-0.4°C margin during the main rainy season. The stable and coherent climatic conditions depicted by the CropWatch indicators should lead to a good harvest for 2017. 

Figure 2.1a. West Africa MPZ spatial distribution of rainfall profiles (left) and profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm) (right), July-October 2017

Figure 2.1b. West Africa MPZ spatial distribution of temperature profiles (left) and profiles of temperature departure from average (°C) (right), July-October 2017 

Figure 2.1c. West Africa MPZ maximum VCI, July-October 2017  

Figure 2.1d. West Africa MPZ cropped and uncropped arable land, July-October 2017

Figure 2.1e. West Africa MPZ biomass accumulation potential departure, July-October 2017

Figure 2.1f. West Africa MPZ VHI minimum, July-October 2017

Figure 2.1g. West Africa MPZ Cropping intensity, November 2016-October 2017