What grows in Benin
The 2027 season in Benin
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | March 2027 to November 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 900 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 686 mm in the driest of 77 districts to about 1,183 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — September and October look short of rain. Plant at the early end of the window, favour quicker and more drought-tolerant crops, and keep moisture in the soil: mulch, and weed early. |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +0.6 °C over the growing months. Heat makes the same rain do less, so a dry spell bites sooner: do not plant late, and shade or mulch what you can. |
| What that supports | enough rain for one full main crop, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 2 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 70% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 233 growing days · about 1,050 mm · April to November |
|---|---|
| 27% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 169 growing days · about 920 mm · May to October |
last updated 30 September 2026 · from all 77 areas within it
Benin's regions
What grows here
-
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 77 of 77 districts
Plant 6 May 2027 – 3 Sep 2027 opens in 31 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 9.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CowpeaFavourableGrows well in 77 of 77 districts
Plant 29 Apr 2027 – 17 Aug 2027 opens in 30 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Green gramFavourableGrows well in 77 of 77 districts
Plant 1 May 2027 – 19 Aug 2027 opens in 30 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 77 of 77 districts
Plant 19 Apr 2027 – 27 Aug 2027 opens in 29 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WatermelonFavourableGrows well in 77 of 77 districts
Plant 29 Apr 2027 – 17 Aug 2027 opens in 30 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CucumberFavourableGrows well in 77 of 77 districts
Plant 14 Jul 2027 – 24 Jul 2027 opens in 41 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 23.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum
Rain-fed. These dates are worked out from each place's own rainfall, for a field watered by the season — with irrigation a window can open earlier, close later, or come round more than once a year. Check your own field under What grows, or get the Divisi app for a calendar dated to your farm.
What grows here with irrigation
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Benin, and the ground under them is not all the same. Your own soil, slope and rainfall will shift the dates — the Divisi app works them out for your field, and dates each job that follows.
Or check your field firstThis calendar moves
Planting windows shift with the forecast. Leave your email and we'll send what changed, and a note when planting time nears — a couple of emails a month at most.
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Benin?
Jute mallow, Cowpea, Green gram, Pearl millet, Watermelon all rate well in Benin — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Jute mallow in Benin?
In Benin the window for Jute mallow runs 6 May 2027 to 3 Sep 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Benin?
Divisi does. It reads Benin's own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average, so the planting dates and crop shortlist on this page are the same ones the app works out for a field here — then dates each job for that field, and keeps working with no signal.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Benin, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.