What grows in Contested
Ethiopia
The 2027 season in Contested
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | June 2027 to October 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 590 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 561 mm in the driest of 3 districts to about 747 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 590 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.4 °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 | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 78% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 130 growing days · about 590 mm · June to October |
|---|---|
| 17% | 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 750 mm · June to September |
| 4% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 104 growing days · about 740 mm · June to September |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 3 areas within it
Contested's districts
What grows here
-
MangoFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 29 May 2027 – 18 Jun 2027 opens in 34 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 11.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
MoringaFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 1 Jun 2027 – 1 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 12.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Passion fruitFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
14.4–14.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
PapayaFavourableGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 28 May 2027 – 17 Jun 2027 opens in 34 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 36.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
African eggplantFavourableGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jun 2027 – 11 Jul 2027 opens in 38 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 24.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
African nightshadeFavourableGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 1 Jul 2027 – 11 Jul 2027 opens in 39 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
17.2–18.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier)
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 59.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
PineappleFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 70.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
Sweet orangeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 25.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
GrapefruitFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 40.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
MandarinFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
CocoaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.0 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 Contested, 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 firstSupport and extension
- Direct Seed Marketing
- Productive Safety Net Programme
- Rural Financial Intermediation Programme III
- Second Ethiopia Resilient Landscapes and Livelihoods Project
- Agricultural and Horticultural Extension Service
- Ethiopian Agricultural Authority
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
This 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 Contested?
Mango, Moringa, Passion fruit, Papaya, African eggplant all rate well in Contested — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Mango in Contested?
In Contested the window for Mango runs 29 May 2027 to 18 Jun 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Contested?
Divisi does. It reads Contested'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 Contested, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.