What grows in Arusha
United Republic of Tanzania
The 2026/27 season in Arusha
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2026 to April 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 454 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 454 mm in the driest of 7 districts to about 906 mm in the wettest |
| Rainy seasons, district by district | Of 7 districts: one rainy season in 6 and two rainy seasons in 1 |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — January, November and December 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 heat | Hotter than usual — about +0.9 °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 | 5 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 35% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 212 growing days · about 670 mm · October to May |
|---|---|
| 21% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 135 growing days · about 440 mm · November to April |
| 16% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 197 growing days · about 590 mm · November to May |
| 11% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 370 mm |
| 7% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 159 growing days · about 520 mm · February to May |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 7 areas within it
Arusha's districts
What grows here
-
MangoFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 10 Dec 2026 – 18 Feb 2027 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
14.6–16.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 26 Dec 2026 – 28 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.8–2.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
PineappleFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 3 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
46.3–47.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
Green gramFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2027 – 20 Feb 2027 opens in 16 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
LablabFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 20 Dec 2026 – 19 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.5–1.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 30 Dec 2026 – 19 Jan 2027 opens in 13 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
3.1–3.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable
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
-
BananaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 59.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
ChickpeaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 1 May 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 30 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 7 districts
Plant 30 Jun 2026 – 10 Jun 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 26.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 80.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
CocoaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier)
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Arusha, 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
- Building a Better Tomorrow – Youth Initiative for Agribusiness
- Fertiliser Subsidy Programme
- Smallholder Farmers Credit Guarantee Scheme
- Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute
- Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute
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 Arusha?
Mango, Pearl millet, Pineapple, Green gram, Lablab all rate well in Arusha — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Mango in Arusha?
In Arusha the window for Mango runs 10 Dec 2026 to 18 Feb 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Arusha?
Divisi does. It reads Arusha'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 Arusha, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.