What grows in Mara
United Republic of Tanzania
The 2026/27 season in Mara
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | September 2026 to June 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 845 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 784 mm in the driest of 7 districts to about 1,257 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — January, February, 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 full main crop, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 66% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 235 growing days · about 800 mm · October to May |
|---|---|
| 21% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 227 growing days · about 770 mm · October to May |
| 5% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 291 growing days · about 970 mm · August to June |
| 3% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 340 growing days · about 1,130 mm · July to July |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 7 areas within it
Mara's districts
What grows here
-
CassavaFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 25 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
23.7–28.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
PineappleFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 25 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
53.4–55.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 14 Oct 2026 – 28 Dec 2026 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
9.4–10.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
RoselleFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 25 Sep 2026 – 13 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CottonFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 25 Sep 2026 – 14 Dec 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Pigeon peaFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 17 Sep 2026 – 26 Dec 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.7 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.
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Mara, 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 Mara?
Cassava, Pineapple, Jute mallow, Roselle, Cotton all rate well in Mara — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Cassava in Mara?
In Mara the window for Cassava runs 25 Sep 2026 to 15 Oct 2026.
Is there a farming app that works in Mara?
Divisi does. It reads Mara'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 Mara, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.