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What grows in Mkalama

Singida, United Republic of Tanzania

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Map showing the boundary of Mkalama

The 2026/27 season in Mkalama

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 556 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 +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 supportsenough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season
Ground this covers2 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 73% of this area.
73% 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 550 mm · November to April
27% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 173 growing days · about 590 mm · November to May

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Mkalama

73% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 44 crops

27% highland, semi-arid, warm — 47 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 Mkalama 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 Mkalama

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.

  • Pineapple Moderate — Water
  • Avocado Unsuitable
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Cabbage Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable — Water
  • Coconut Unsuitable
  • Taro Unsuitable — Water
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Enset Unsuitable
  • Garlic Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Ginger Unsuitable — Water
  • Grapefruit Unsuitable — Water
  • Guava Unsuitable — Water
  • Lemon Unsuitable — Water
  • Lime Unsuitable — Water
  • Mandarin Unsuitable — Water
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Water
  • Sugarcane Unsuitable — Water
  • Sweet orange Unsuitable — Water
  • Tea Unsuitable
  • Teff Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Turmeric Unsuitable — Water
  • Yam Unsuitable — Water

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 25 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

  • 31 August 2026 Pumpkin Butternut — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Slope / terrain
  • 31 August 2026 Pumpkin Butternut — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 31 August 2026 Lablab — Limiting factor changed
  • 31 August 2026 Lablab — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 31 August 2026 Maize — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Water

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

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Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Mkalama?

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

When should I plant Bambara groundnut in Mkalama?

In Mkalama the window for Bambara groundnut runs 15 Oct 2026 to 3 Jan 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Mkalama?

Divisi does. It reads Mkalama'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 Mkalama, 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.

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