Divisi
What grows in Butha-Buthe
Lesotho
The 2026/27 season in Butha-Buthe
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to May 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 738 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 668 mm in the driest of 5 districts to about 926 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January, February, November 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 +1.8 °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 full main crop, cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date |
| 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. |
| 69% | enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 252 growing days · about 870 mm · September to May |
|---|---|
| 24% | enough rain for one full main crop; cold for much of the year, with a short planting season 231 growing days · about 930 mm · September to April |
| 8% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 206 growing days · about 670 mm · October to May |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 5 areas within it
Butha-Buthe's districts
What grows here
-
Niger seedFavourableGrows well in 3 of 5 districts
Plant 27 Dec 2026 – 26 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
0.6–0.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WheatFavourableGrows well in 2 of 5 districts
Plant 27 Dec 2026 – 26 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.6–3.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope -
Common beanFavourableGrows well in 2 of 5 districts
Plant 27 Dec 2026 – 5 Feb 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TeffFavourableGrows well in 2 of 5 districts
Plant 6 Jan 2027 – 26 Jan 2027 opens in 14 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
SunflowerFavourableGrows well in 2 of 5 districts
Plant 14 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.7–2.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
PumpkinFavourableGrows well in 1 of 5 districts
Plant 7 Nov 2026 – 17 Dec 2026 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
13.3–16.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-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.
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Butha-Buthe, 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.
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 Butha-Buthe?
Niger seed, Wheat, Common bean, Teff, Sunflower all rate well in Butha-Buthe — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Niger seed in Butha-Buthe?
In Butha-Buthe the window for Niger seed runs 27 Dec 2026 to 26 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Butha-Buthe?
Divisi does. It reads Butha-Buthe'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 Butha-Buthe, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.