What grows in Bakau
Kanifing Municipal Council, Gambia
The 2026 season in Bakau
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | June 2026 to October 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 824 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — September looks 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 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 the largest that farms — about 50% of this area. |
| 50% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 129 growing days · about 820 mm · June to October |
|---|---|
| 50% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 129 growing days · about 830 mm · June to October |
last updated 17 September 2026
What grows in Bakau
50% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 40 crops
-
Jute mallowFavourablePlant 13 Jun 2026 – 21 Sep 2026 closed for this season
matched to this season's forecast
about 10.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 15.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TomatoFavourablePlant 13 Jun 2027 – 23 Jul 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 40.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 70.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CarrotFavourablePlant 13 Jun 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 50.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WatermelonFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 12 Aug 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 50.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
African eggplantFavourablePlant 13 Jun 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 25.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 35.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
PumpkinFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 25.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 8 Oct 2026 – 20 Jul 2027 · about 35.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
AmaranthFavourablePlant 13 Jun 2027 – 22 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 20.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 30.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
African nightshadeFavourablePlant 23 Jun 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 38 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 18.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 8 Oct 2026 – 1 May 2027 · about 25.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
MangoFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 18.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 25.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
OkraFavourablePlant 23 Jun 2027 – 11 Sep 2027 opens in 38 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 10.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 15.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Spider plantFavourablePlant 23 Jun 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 38 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 10.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 8 Oct 2026 – 1 May 2027 · about 15.0 t/ha
Early-maturing — escapes late drought -
MaizeFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 7.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 10.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SorghumFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 4.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 5.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
GroundnutFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 4.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SoybeanFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 4.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TobaccoFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 3.5 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Pearl milletFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 12 Aug 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 3.5 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Common beanFavourablePlant 13 Jun 2027 – 12 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 3.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Bambara groundnutFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
LablabFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 10 Jun 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CowpeaFavourablePlant 13 Jun 2027 – 22 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 2.5 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CashewFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 1 Sep 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 2.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
FonioFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 12 Aug 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Green gramFavourablePlant 13 Jun 2027 – 22 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 2.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Egusi melonFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SesameFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 3 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
PapayaFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 49.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 70.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
RiceFavourablePlant 23 Jun 2027 – 23 Jul 2027 opens in 38 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 5.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 7.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
MoringaFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 3 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 19.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 35.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
RoselleFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jun 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
EggplantFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jun 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 34.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 50.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
CottonFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jun 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 4.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
ChilliFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jun 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 13.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 25.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
OnionFavourable
Plant 13 Jun 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 22.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 37.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SunflowerFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 3.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
GuavaFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jul 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 15.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 35.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Pigeon peaFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jun 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 2.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
KaleFavourablePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jun 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 17.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 28 Oct 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 · about 39.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
LettuceModeratePlant 3 Jul 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 39 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 6.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 7 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 17.3 t/ha
Too cool / season too shortPest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
YamModeratePlant 3 Jun 2027 – 23 Jun 2027 opens in 35 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 6.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 25.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableDry season too long for this cropLate-maturing — drought risk
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 in Bakau with irrigation
These need water applied — rain alone will not carry them here. The dates are the windows their own water supply allows.
-
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 120.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
PineappleFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 70.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
BananaFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 60.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
GrapefruitFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 40.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
MandarinFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
LimeFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 25.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 20.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CocoaFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Finger milletFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 8 Oct 2026 – 2 Mar 2027 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CucumberFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 17 Nov 2026 – 22 Mar 2027 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 40.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CassavaFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 30.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
TurmericFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 30.0 t/ha expected
Late-maturing — drought risk -
CoconutFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Sweet orangeFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 26.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
GingerFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 8 Oct 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
about 23.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk
What Divisi would not plant in Bakau
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.
- Lime Moderate
- Mandarin Moderate
- Cassava Moderate
- Grapefruit Moderate
- Sweet orange Moderate
- Avocado Unsuitable
- Banana Unsuitable
- Beetroot Unsuitable — Temperature
- Cabbage Unsuitable — Temperature
- Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
- Cocoa Unsuitable
- Coconut Unsuitable
- Taro Unsuitable
- Arabica coffee Unsuitable
- Robusta coffee Unsuitable
- Cucumber Unsuitable — Temperature
- Enset Unsuitable
- Finger millet Unsuitable — Temperature
- Garlic Unsuitable — Temperature
- Ginger Unsuitable
- Irish potato Unsuitable
- Lemon Unsuitable — Temperature
- Niger seed Unsuitable — Temperature
- Oil palm Unsuitable
- Passion fruit Unsuitable — Temperature
- Pineapple Unsuitable
- Sugarcane Unsuitable
- Sweet pepper Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
- Swiss chard Unsuitable — Temperature
- Tea Unsuitable
- Teff Unsuitable — Temperature
- Turmeric Unsuitable
- Wheat Unsuitable — Temperature
Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 34 came back without a sowing date.
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Bakau, 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 firstWhat changed in Bakau
- 2 September 2026 Tobacco — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
- 2 September 2026 Lablab — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
- 2 September 2026 African Eggplant — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
- 2 September 2026 Pumpkin Butternut — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
- 2 September 2026 Sesame — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
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
-
Marché de Kaolack
99 km · Groundnut, Pearl millet, Cowpea, Sorghum
-
Marché de Diourbel
140 km · Groundnut, Pearl millet, Cowpea, Onion
-
Marché de Thiaroye
162 km · Onion, Irish potato, Carrot, Cabbage
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Bakau?
Jute mallow, African eggplant, African nightshade, Amaranth, Bambara groundnut all rate well in Bakau — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Jute mallow in Bakau?
In Bakau the window for Jute mallow runs 13 Jun 2026 to 21 Sep 2026.
Is there a farming app that works in Bakau?
Divisi does. It reads Bakau'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 Bakau, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.