What grows in Turkana
Kenya
The 2027 season in Turkana
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | March 2027 to September 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 562 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 210 mm in the driest of 6 districts to about 1,087 mm in the wettest |
| 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 +2.4 °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 | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 80% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 350 mm |
|---|---|
| 7% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 141 growing days · about 540 mm · March to September |
| 6% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 256 growing days · about 730 mm · March to December |
| 5% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 283 growing days · about 990 mm · March to December |
last updated 16 September 2026 · from all 6 areas within it
Turkana's districts
What grows here
-
CashewFavourableGrows well in 4 of 6 districts
Plant 9 Mar 2027 – 17 Jul 2027 opens in 23 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.1–1.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 4 of 6 districts
Plant 8 Jul 2027 – 28 Jul 2027 opens in 40 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
6.2–7.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
PineappleFavourableGrows well in 4 of 6 districts
Plant 9 Mar 2027 – 29 Mar 2027 opens in 23 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
36.5–38.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
CucumberFavourableGrows well in 3 of 6 districts
Plant 17 Jun 2027 – 17 Jul 2027 opens in 37 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
16.6–19.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 2 of 6 districts
Plant 10 Mar 2027 – 19 Apr 2027 opens in 23 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.3–1.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
WatermelonFavourableGrows well in 2 of 6 districts
Plant 27 May 2027 – 26 Jun 2027 opens in 34 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
21.0–26.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum
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
-
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 6 of 6 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 18.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
Arabica coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 4 of 6 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
LemonFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 4 of 6 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
GingerFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 6 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 16.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
AvocadoFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 6 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
based on the rains it usually gets
about 13.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
EnsetFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 6 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
based on the rains it usually gets
about 26.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Turkana, 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
- Agricultural Finance Corporation Credit
- National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme
- Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
- Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service
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 Turkana?
Cashew, Jute mallow, Pineapple, Cucumber, Pearl millet all rate well in Turkana — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Cashew in Turkana?
In Turkana the window for Cashew runs 9 Mar 2027 to 17 Jul 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Turkana?
Divisi does. It reads Turkana'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 Turkana, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.