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What grows in Likoma

Northern, Malawi

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Map showing the boundary of Likoma

The 2026/27 season in Likoma

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedNovember 2026 to April 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 1,194 mm
This season's rainLeaning dry — January and February 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 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 one short crop, and only if timed to it, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season
Ground this covers3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 50% of this area.
50% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 189 growing days · about 1,210 mm · November to May
38% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 158 growing days · about 1,190 mm · November to April
12% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 158 growing days · about 1,180 mm · November to April

last updated 17 September 2026

What grows in Likoma

50% lowland, sub-humid, warm — 45 crops

38% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 45 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 grows in Likoma with irrigation

These need water applied — rain alone will not carry them here. The dates are the windows their own water supply allows.

What Divisi would not plant in Likoma

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.

  • Grapefruit Moderate — Water
  • Sweet orange Moderate — Water
  • Lemon Moderate — Water
  • Avocado Unsuitable
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Beetroot Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cabbage Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable — Water
  • Coconut Unsuitable — Water
  • Taro Unsuitable — Water
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Enset Unsuitable
  • Garlic Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Ginger Unsuitable — Water
  • Irish potato Unsuitable
  • Niger seed Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Water
  • Passion fruit Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pineapple Unsuitable — Water
  • Sugarcane Unsuitable — Water
  • Sweet pepper Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Swiss chard Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Tea Unsuitable
  • Teff Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Turmeric Unsuitable — Water
  • Wheat Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 29 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Likoma, 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 Likoma

  • 31 August 2026 Banana Plantain — Crop became recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 Pumpkin Butternut — Crop became recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 Fonio — Crop became recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 Cucumber — Crop became recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 Lime — Crop became 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 Likoma?

Cashew, Guava, Mango, Moringa, Pigeon pea all rate well in Likoma — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Cashew in Likoma?

In Likoma the window for Cashew runs 2 Nov 2026 to 2 Mar 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Likoma?

Divisi does. It reads Likoma'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 Likoma, 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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