What grows in NORTH WEST
Botswana
The 2026/27 season in NORTH WEST
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2026 to March 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 488 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 468 mm in the driest of 3 districts to about 514 mm in the wettest |
| 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 +2.0 °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. |
| 93% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 118 growing days · about 470 mm · November to March |
|---|---|
| 4% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 370 mm · December to March |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 3 areas within it
NORTH WEST's districts
What grows here
-
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 27 Dec 2026 – 5 Feb 2027 opens in 13 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
8.6–9.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 29 Nov 2026 – 18 Jan 2027 opens in 9 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.0–2.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WatermelonFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 12 Dec 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
25.3–30.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SoybeanFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 24 Nov 2026 – 24 Dec 2026 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.1–2.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Bambara groundnutFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 25 Nov 2026 – 15 Dec 2026 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Egusi melonFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 29 Nov 2026 – 29 Dec 2026 opens in 9 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
0.9–1.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-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 3 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 50.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
GrapefruitFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 3 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 3 of 3 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 -
LimeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 10 Feb 2026 – 21 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 3 of 3 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 -
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 101.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in NORTH WEST, 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 NORTH WEST?
Jute mallow, Pearl millet, Watermelon, Soybean, Bambara groundnut all rate well in NORTH WEST — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Jute mallow in NORTH WEST?
In NORTH WEST the window for Jute mallow runs 27 Dec 2026 to 5 Feb 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in NORTH WEST?
Divisi does. It reads NORTH WEST'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 NORTH WEST, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.