What grows in CHOBE
Botswana
These figures also cover CHOBE, where the engine returns the same answer.
The 2026/27 season in CHOBE
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2026 to April 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 598 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January, February and December 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 +1.8 °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 short crop, and only if timed to it, 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. |
| 95% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 132 growing days · about 560 mm · November to March |
|---|---|
| 5% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 126 growing days · about 510 mm · November to March |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 1 areas within it
CHOBE's districts
What grows here
-
Bambara groundnutFavourableGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 23 Nov 2026 – 13 Dec 2026 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.7–2.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Egusi melonFavourableGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 27 Nov 2026 – 27 Dec 2026 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.1–1.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
FonioFavourableGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 23 Nov 2026 – 13 Dec 2026 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.3–1.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Green gramFavourableGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 27 Nov 2026 – 16 Jan 2027 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
LablabFavourableGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 27 Nov 2026 – 27 Dec 2026 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.8–2.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 27 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.4–2.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought
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
-
BananaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 55.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
GrapefruitFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 37.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
GuavaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 32.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
LemonFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
LimeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 23.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
MandarinFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 1 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 32.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in CHOBE, 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 CHOBE?
Bambara groundnut, Egusi melon, Fonio, Green gram, Lablab all rate well in CHOBE — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Bambara groundnut in CHOBE?
In CHOBE the window for Bambara groundnut runs 23 Nov 2026 to 13 Dec 2026.
Is there a farming app that works in CHOBE?
Divisi does. It reads CHOBE'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 CHOBE, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.