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What grows in Balcad

Middle Shabelle, Somalia

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Map showing the boundary of Balcad

The 2026 season in Balcad

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedOctober 2026 to December 2026
Rain in a typical yearAbout 447 mm
This season's rainLeaning wet — October and November look heavier than usual. Make sure water can drain off the field; a wet year does more damage through waterlogging and disease than through the rain itself.
This season's heatHotter than usual — about +0.8 °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 covers4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 40% of this area.
40% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 116 growing days · about 430 mm · October to December
29% too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 400 mm · October to December
24% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 126 growing days · about 470 mm · April to June
3% too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 360 mm

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Balcad

40% lowland, semi-arid, warm, one season — 31 crops

29% lowland, arid, warm — 31 crops

24% lowland, semi-arid, warm, two seasons — 35 crops

3% arid, warm — 35 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 Balcad 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 Balcad

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.

  • Papaya Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Pigeon pea Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Cassava Moderate — Water
  • Moringa Moderate — Water
  • Avocado Unsuitable
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Beetroot Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cabbage Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cashew Unsuitable — Water
  • 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
  • Grapefruit Unsuitable — Water
  • Guava Unsuitable — Water
  • Irish potato Unsuitable
  • Lemon Unsuitable
  • Lime Unsuitable — Water
  • Mandarin Unsuitable — Water
  • Mango Unsuitable — Water
  • Niger seed Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Water
  • Passion fruit Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pineapple Unsuitable — Water
  • Sugarcane Unsuitable — Water
  • Sweet orange 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
  • Yam Unsuitable — Water

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 39 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

  • 2 September 2026 Mandarin — Crop became recommendable
  • 2 September 2026 Lemon — Crop became recommendable
  • 2 September 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.

Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Balcad?

Cowpea, Jute mallow, Cucumber, African nightshade, Bambara groundnut all rate well in Balcad — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Cowpea in Balcad?

In Balcad the window for Cowpea runs 20 Sep 2026 to 10 Oct 2026.

Is there a farming app that works in Balcad?

Divisi does. It reads Balcad'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 Balcad, 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