What grows in Dodoma
United Republic of Tanzania
The 2026/27 season in Dodoma
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2026 to May 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 532 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 491 mm in the driest of 7 districts to about 637 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 532 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.2 °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 | 6 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 76% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 148 growing days · about 520 mm · November to April |
|---|---|
| 8% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 184 growing days · about 620 mm · November to May |
| 5% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 184 growing days · about 680 mm · November to May |
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 206 growing days · about 760 mm · November to June |
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 200 growing days · about 720 mm · November to May |
| 3% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 178 growing days · about 630 mm · November to May |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 7 areas within it
Dodoma's districts
What grows here
-
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 12 Nov 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.9–2.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Finger milletFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 11 Nov 2026 – 21 Dec 2026 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.2–2.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
LablabFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 10 Nov 2026 – 19 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.6–1.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SoybeanFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 14 Nov 2026 – 24 Dec 2026 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Egusi melonFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 12 Nov 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
0.9–1.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 12 Nov 2026 – 11 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.8–3.5 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 60.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 29.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Arabica 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 2.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
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 -
GingerFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 28.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 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 — manageable
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Dodoma, 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 Dodoma?
Pearl millet, Finger millet, Lablab, Soybean, Egusi melon all rate well in Dodoma — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Pearl millet in Dodoma?
In Dodoma the window for Pearl millet runs 12 Nov 2026 to 21 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Dodoma?
Divisi does. It reads Dodoma'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 Dodoma, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.