What grows in Ngorongoro

Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania

Save as PDF

Map showing the boundary of Ngorongoro

The 2026/27 season in Ngorongoro

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedOctober 2026 to May 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 689 mm
This season's rainLeaning 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 heatHotter than usual — about +1.0 °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 61% of this area.
Agro-ecological zones covering this area
61% 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
14% 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 440 mm · November to April
10% too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 350 mm
5% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 280 growing days · about 960 mm · October to July

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Ngorongoro

61% highland, sub-humid, warm — 48 crops

14% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 49 crops

5% high montane, humid, warm — 11 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 Ngorongoro 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 Ngorongoro

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.

  • Chickpea Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Arabica coffee Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Mandarin Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Grapefruit Moderate — Water
  • Sugarcane Moderate
  • Yam Moderate — Slope / terrain
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Cocoa Unsuitable
  • Coconut Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Taro Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable
  • Ginger Unsuitable — Water
  • 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 Ngorongoro, 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 Ngorongoro

  • 2 September 2026 Chickpea — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Water
  • 2 September 2026 Chickpea — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 2 September 2026 Mango — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 2 September 2026 Lemon — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Water
  • 2 September 2026 Sunflower — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable

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 Ngorongoro?

Kale, Swiss chard, Beetroot, Irish potato, Lettuce all rate well in Ngorongoro — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Kale in Ngorongoro?

In Ngorongoro the window for Kale runs 30 Sep 2026 to 27 Feb 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Ngorongoro?

Divisi does. It reads Ngorongoro'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 Ngorongoro, 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.