Divisi icon Divisi

What grows in Rumphi

Northern, Malawi

Save as PDF

Map showing the boundary of Rumphi

The 2026/27 season in Rumphi

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedOctober 2026 to June 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 1,092 mm
This season's rainRain close to usual — plan around about 1,092 mm falling roughly when it always does
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 full main crop, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season
Ground this covers4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 35% of this area.
35% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 220 growing days · about 1,110 mm · October to June
35% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 205 growing days · about 1,010 mm · November to June
21% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 173 growing days · about 840 mm · November to April
4% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 226 growing days · about 1,150 mm · October to June

last updated 17 September 2026

What grows in Rumphi

35% highland, sub-humid, warm — 35 crops

35% lowland, sub-humid, warm — 54 crops

21% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 54 crops

4% high montane, sub-humid, warm — 23 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 Rumphi 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 Rumphi

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.

  • Cashew Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Turmeric Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Arabica coffee Moderate — Water
  • Enset Moderate — Water
  • Ginger Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Sugarcane Moderate — Water
  • Banana Unsuitable
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable
  • Coconut Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Taro Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable
  • Oil palm Unsuitable

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 13 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

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 Rumphi?

Lemon, Maize, Sorghum, Soybean, Sunflower all rate well in Rumphi — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Lemon in Rumphi?

In Rumphi the window for Lemon runs 11 Oct 2026 to 10 Mar 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Rumphi?

Divisi does. It reads Rumphi'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 Rumphi, 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.

Crop guides Pest guides Disease guides Where to sell it Farming glossary Farming insights Read the Hive Feed How the advice is made