What grows in Madagascar
The 2025/26 season in Madagascar
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2025 to April 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 766 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 456 mm in the driest of 120 districts to about 3,008 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January, February 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 +1.5 °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. |
| 46% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 162 growing days · about 1,060 mm · November to April |
|---|---|
| 24% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 189 growing days · about 1,490 mm · October to April |
| 20% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 365 growing days · about 2,130 mm · January to December |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 120 areas within it
Madagascar's regions
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Alaotra Mangoro
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Ambatosoa
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Amoron I Mania
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Analamanga
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Analanjirofo
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Androy
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Anosy
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Atsimo Andrefana
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Atsimo Atsinanana
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Atsinanana
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Betsiboka
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Boeny
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Bongolava
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Diana
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Fitovinany
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Haute Matsiatra
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Ihorombe
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Itasy
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Melaky
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Menabe
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Sava
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Sofia
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Vakinankaratra
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Vatovavy
What grows here
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MangoFavourableGrows well in 115 of 120 districts
Plant 18 Sep 2026 – 20 Jul 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 16.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Pigeon peaFavourableGrows well in 105 of 120 districts
Plant 3 Oct 2026 – 12 Nov 2026 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
PapayaFavourableGrows well in 105 of 120 districts
Plant 16 Nov 2026 – 26 Dec 2026 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 45.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 101 of 120 districts
Plant 14 Nov 2026 – 23 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 4.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Common beanFavourableGrows well in 101 of 120 districts
Plant 24 Nov 2026 – 2 Feb 2027 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.2–2.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SoybeanFavourableGrows well in 100 of 120 districts
Plant 16 Nov 2026 – 26 Dec 2026 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.6–2.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-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 Madagascar, 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 firstThis 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 Madagascar?
Mango, Pigeon pea, Papaya, Sorghum, Common bean all rate well in Madagascar — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Mango in Madagascar?
In Madagascar the window for Mango runs 18 Sep 2026 to 20 Jul 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Madagascar?
Divisi does. It reads Madagascar'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 Madagascar, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.