What grows in Manica
Moçambique
The 2026/27 season in Manica
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to June 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,023 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 630 mm in the driest of 12 districts to about 1,138 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 +1.5 °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 full main crop, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 2 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 50% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 218 growing days · about 1,060 mm · October to June |
|---|---|
| 48% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 166 growing days · about 750 mm · November to April |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 12 areas within it
Manica's districts
-
Báruè -
Cidade de Chimoio -
Gondola -
Guro -
Macate -
Machaze -
Macossa -
Manica -
Mossurize -
Sussundenga -
Tambara -
Vanduzi
What grows here
-
MangoFavourableGrows well in 12 of 12 districts
Plant 22 Oct 2026 – 30 Jan 2027 opens in 3 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 16.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SesameFavourableGrows well in 12 of 12 districts
Plant 24 Oct 2026 – 13 Dec 2026 opens in 3 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
GroundnutFavourableGrows well in 12 of 12 districts
Plant 24 Oct 2026 – 13 Dec 2026 opens in 3 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 12 of 12 districts
Plant 22 Oct 2026 – 1 Dec 2026 opens in 3 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
PapayaFavourableGrows well in 12 of 12 districts
Plant 1 Nov 2026 – 31 Dec 2026 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 45.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Egusi melonFavourableGrows well in 12 of 12 districts
Plant 27 Oct 2026 – 4 Feb 2027 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-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
-
ChickpeaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 10 of 12 districts
Plant 10 Jun 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
GarlicFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 10 of 12 districts
Plant 11 Apr 2027 – 21 May 2027 opens in 28 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 16.7 t/ha expected
Soil pH below the crop's optimumLate-maturing — drought risk -
CabbageFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 9 of 12 districts
Plant 11 Apr 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 28 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 48.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 6 of 12 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.9 t/ha expected
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageable -
CocoaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 5 of 12 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 5 of 12 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 15.3 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 Manica, 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 firstSupport and extension
- Programa de Desenvolvimento Inclusivo de Cadeias de Valor Agro-Alimentares
- SUSTENTA
- Autoridade Nacional de Sementes
- Direcção Nacional de Extensão Agrária
- Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique
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 Manica?
Mango, Sesame, Groundnut, Pearl millet, Papaya all rate well in Manica — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Mango in Manica?
In Manica the window for Mango runs 22 Oct 2026 to 30 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Manica?
Divisi does. It reads Manica'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 Manica, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.