What grows in Chunya

Mbeya, United Republic of Tanzania

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Map showing the boundary of Chunya

The 2026/27 season in Chunya

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedNovember 2026 to May 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 722 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 67% of this area.
Agro-ecological zones covering this area
67% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 191 growing days · about 810 mm · November 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 170 growing days · about 660 mm · November to May
14% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 195 growing days · about 810 mm · November to May
5% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 164 growing days · about 740 mm · November to April

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Chunya

67% lowland, sub-humid, warm — 55 crops

14% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 48 crops

14% highland, sub-humid, warm — 52 crops

5% highland, semi-arid, warm — 51 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 Chunya 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 Chunya

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.

  • Cabbage Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Garlic Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Avocado Moderate — Water
  • Pineapple Moderate — Water
  • Turmeric Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Tea Moderate — Water
  • Sugarcane Moderate — Water
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable — Water
  • Coconut Unsuitable
  • Taro Unsuitable — Water
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Enset Unsuitable
  • Ginger Unsuitable — Water
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Water

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 17 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

  • 31 August 2026 Lime — Crop became recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 African Nightshade — Crop became recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 Beetroot — Crop became recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 Tobacco — Crop became recommendable
  • 31 August 2026 Guava — 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.

Where to sell it nearby

Support and extension

Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Chunya?

Bambara groundnut, Finger millet, Fonio, Groundnut, Lablab all rate well in Chunya — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Bambara groundnut in Chunya?

In Chunya the window for Bambara groundnut runs 17 Oct 2026 to 15 Jan 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Chunya?

Divisi does. It reads Chunya'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 Chunya, 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.