What grows in Mali
The 2027 season in Mali
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | June 2027 to October 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 517 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 14 mm in the driest of 160 districts to about 1,082 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 517 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.6 °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. |
| 67% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 60 mm · July to September |
|---|---|
| 26% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 124 growing days · about 600 mm · June to October |
| 4% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth no rain-fed season · about 10 mm |
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 206 growing days · about 1,010 mm · April to November |
last updated 30 September 2026 · from all 160 areas within it
Mali's regions
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Bamako
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Bandiagara
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Bougouni
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Dioïla
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Douentza
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Gao
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Kayes
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Kidal
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Kita
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Koulikoro
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Koutiala
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Mopti
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Ménaka
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Nara
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Nioro
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San
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Segou
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Sikasso
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Taoudenni
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Timbuktu
What grows here
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Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 108 of 160 districts
Plant 13 Jul 2027 – 2 Aug 2027 opens in 41 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
8.7–9.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Green gramFavourableGrows well in 108 of 160 districts
Plant 30 Jun 2027 – 20 Jul 2027 opens in 39 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.3–1.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CowpeaFavourableGrows well in 108 of 160 districts
Plant 30 Jun 2027 – 20 Jul 2027 opens in 39 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.6–1.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 107 of 160 districts
Plant 7 Jun 2027 – 16 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLimited rooting depthEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
OkraFavourableGrows well in 107 of 160 districts
Plant 9 Jul 2027 – 29 Jul 2027 opens in 40 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
9.3–10.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 106 of 160 districts
Plant 16 Jun 2027 – 16 Jul 2027 opens in 37 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
3.6–3.7 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.
What grows here with irrigation
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SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 160 of 160 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 111.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 159 of 160 districts
Plant 21 May 2026 – 1 May 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 27.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
BananaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 154 of 160 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 42.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
Sweet orangeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 138 of 160 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 27.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 158 of 160 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 19.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumShallow soil -
WheatFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 106 of 160 districts
Plant 28 Oct 2026 – 17 Nov 2026 opens in 4 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
about 4.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Mali, 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 Mali?
Jute mallow, Green gram, Cowpea, Pearl millet, Okra all rate well in Mali — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Jute mallow in Mali?
In Mali the window for Jute mallow runs 13 Jul 2027 to 2 Aug 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Mali?
Divisi does. It reads Mali'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 Mali, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.