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What grows in Lunga

Luapula, Zambia

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Map showing the boundary of Lunga

These figures also cover Samfya, where the engine returns the same answer.

The 2026/27 season in Lunga

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedOctober 2026 to April 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 1,259 mm
This season's rainRain close to usual — plan around about 1,259 mm falling roughly when it always does
This season's heatHotter than usual — about +1.3 °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 covers2 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 80% of this area.
80% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 180 growing days · about 1,250 mm · October to April
19% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 179 growing days · about 1,210 mm · October to April

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Lunga

80% lowland, sub-humid, warm — 58 crops

19% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 58 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 Lunga 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 Lunga

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.

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

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 16 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

  • 2 September 2026 Sunflower — Planting window moved, now opens 23 Dec 2026
  • 2 September 2026 Papaya — Planting window moved, now opens 27 Nov 2026
  • 2 September 2026 Watermelon — Planting window moved, now opens 5 Jan 2027
  • 2 September 2026 Oil Palm — Crop stopped being 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Lunga?

Bambara groundnut, Cotton, Finger millet, Fonio, Green gram all rate well in Lunga — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Bambara groundnut in Lunga?

In Lunga the window for Bambara groundnut runs 10 Oct 2026 to 29 Dec 2026.

Is there a farming app that works in Lunga?

Divisi does. It reads Lunga'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 Lunga, 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.

Crop guides Pest guides Disease guides Where to sell it Farming glossary Farming insights Read the Hive Feed How the advice is made