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What grows in Northern

Sidama, Ethiopia

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Map showing the boundary of Northern

The 2026 season in Northern

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedFebruary 2026 to November 2026
Rain in a typical yearAbout 1,124 mm
This season's rainRain close to usual — plan around about 1,124 mm falling roughly when it always does
This season's heatHotter than usual — about +1.3 °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 supportsenough rain for a long crop, or two in a year, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season
Ground this covers4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 36% of this area.
36% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 280 growing days · about 1,120 mm · February to November
31% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 262 growing days · about 960 mm · March to November
20% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 318 growing days · about 1,250 mm · February to December
4% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 312 growing days · about 1,200 mm · February to December

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Northern

36% highland, humid, warm, one season — 54 crops

31% highland, sub-humid, warm — 58 crops

20% high montane, humid, warm — 10 crops

4% highland, humid, warm, rain year-round — 39 crops

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 Divisi would not plant in Northern

Every crop in the catalogue is scored against this district, not only the ones that work — so the list above is a decision rather than a shortlist. These are the rest, with what ruled each one out.

  • Green gram Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Sesame Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Sugarcane Moderate
  • Robusta coffee Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Cashew Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cassava Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Coconut Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Taro Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cotton Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pearl millet Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pigeon pea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Yam Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 15 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Northern, and the map colours which kind of ground each part of it is. 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 first

What changed in Northern

  • 31 August 2026 Chickpea — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Slope / terrain
  • 31 August 2026 Wheat — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Slope / terrain
  • 31 August 2026 Common Bean — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Slope / terrain
  • 31 August 2026 African Nightshade — Crop stopped being recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 Passion Fruit — Crop stopped being recommendable

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.

Where to sell it nearby

Support and extension

Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Northern?

Enset, Beetroot, Garlic, Irish potato, Lettuce all rate well in Northern — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Enset in Northern?

In Northern the window for Enset runs 22 Mar 2026 to 2 Mar 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Northern?

Divisi does. It reads Northern'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 Northern, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.

Keep going

The district's answer is one question. What each crop needs, what attacks it and where to sell it are the others.

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