Global Agriculture Overview: April Update Unveiled
- Insight: Livestock health issues could stem from various sources, such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or other regional health and conservation challenges (SADC gatherings). South Africa is actively enhancing trade infrastructure, which may indirectly impact livestock health management (improved biosecurity and trade).
- East Africa: April's rainfall deficit negatively affected crop growth in most areas. The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre projects wetter conditions for May to July, helping crops recover. However, isolated areas in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and parts of southern Somalia expect drier conditions. Alarming levels of acute food insecurity persist across the region, with over 41 million people at risk in six IGAD member states.
- West and Central Africa: The rainy season's first maize planting began in the bimodal southern parts, along the Gulf of Guinea. A slight delay is observed in some regions, especially in Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, and Togo. The Copernicus Climate Change Service predicts central and eastern areas will see average rainfall, while western and southwestern regions may experience drier conditions.
- Middle East: Winter cereal prospects vary: Iran's biomass levels are above average, Iraq's are close to average, while Syria's are very poor. In Yemen and North Africa, prospects are mixed. Ongoing wheat harvest in Yemen indicates good prospects, while North Africa is struggling, with western regions suffering from extremely dry conditions since the season's start.
- Central Asia: Winter wheat and barley biomass levels are close to or above average, favouring production prospects. Afghanistan is experiencing below-average rainfall in the north-west, which could impact wheat yields. South Asia's rabi crops harvest has concluded in Pakistan, while Bangladesh is currently harvesting boro rice. In Sri Lanka, the second-season yala rice planting is underway under moist conditions, and wetter-than-average conditions persist until end of July.
- Latin America and Caribbean islands: Favourable conditions support crop development. However, Bolivia and Ecuador faced flooding this month. Cuba expects successful maize, rice, and potato harvests, while rice yields are predicted to be high in Colombia. Localised areas might experience reduced yields or smaller planting areas due to flood damage in Bolivia and Ecuador, or decreases in Peru.
Scarce cereal harvests in Morocco and Syria; Rainfall shortages during early season in certain East African regions
Southern Africa: The main agricultural season is concluding, with summer crop harvest underway. While regional cereal production is projected to stay average (FAO's Crop Prospects and Food Situation - Triannual global report (March 2025)), Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia anticipate a drop in yield. Livestock health is a concern in Botswana, northern South Africa, and parts of Namibia, due to rising diseases (SADC Agromet update). Though pasture conditions are favourable, these disease outbreaks could hinder livestock growth.
The next assessment is set for May 2025.
- The concerns around livestock health in Botswana, northern South Africa, and parts of Namibia could potentially be linked to environmental-science factors like weather or climate-change, which might be analyzed more closely through weather-forecasting and climate-change projections.
- In the light of the anticipated weather patterns for May to July in East Africa, it becomes crucial for scientists to monitor environmental factors and apply focused strategies in agriculture, aiming to ensure food security.
- With both South Africa and Cuba anticipating successful agricultural seasons, it might be beneficial to study their agricultural best practices to improve global food security, particularly in regions suffering from food insecurity.
- The unpredictable weather patterns affecting various parts of the world highlight the need for enhancing the science behind agricultural practices, thus strengthening the global security in food supply.
