Divisi
When to plant Chickpea in East Wellega
Oromia, Ethiopia
Known here as ሽምብራ (shimbra)
Chickpea is a knee-high, branching legume grown for its round, protein-rich seeds — the pea behind roasted snacks, stews and hummus.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 3 May 2027 – 23 May 2027 opens in 31 weeks | 17 Nov 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 |
| Expected harvest | about 2.2 t/ha | same |
| Harvest | From 1 Aug 2027 to 20 Oct 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 90–150 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 56–114 days per hectare, by hand | |
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.
If you only get one chance to plant, aim for around 13 May 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for East Wellega is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 23 May 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in East Wellega
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 88% |
| The lie of the land | 60% |
For chickpea in East Wellega, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 60%. You cannot flatten it, but you can farm it: plant along the contour rather than up and down, ridge or tie ridges to hold water on the slope, and expect shallower rooting than the crop would manage on flat ground.
The 2027 season in East Wellega
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | April 2027 to November 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,811 mm |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 1,811 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.4 °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 | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 62% of this area. |
| 62% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 236 growing days · about 1,560 mm · April to November |
|---|---|
| 34% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 223 growing days · about 1,370 mm · April to November |
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 258 growing days · about 1,770 mm · March to November |
last updated 16 September 2026
What chickpea needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained loam, clay loam or clay soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 6.0 and 8.0 |
| Spacing | 30 cm between rows, 10 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | phosphorus |
What it takes to grow chickpea in East Wellega
| Nitrogen (N) | About 88 kg per hectare — the crop fixes most of this itself; inoculated seed matters more than a bag |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 11 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 33 kg per hectare |
| In the shops | A basal compound at planting — Compound D, or an NPK blend — covers the phosphate and potash. Skip the nitrogen top dressing; inoculated seed does that job. |
| Hand work | 56–114 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a chickpea crop of that size carries off the field. What you actually apply depends on what your soil already holds — which is what a soil test, or the app's field records, tell you.
What to watch for
Grow Chickpea with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes East Wellega as a whole — 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.
Where to sell Chickpea nearby
Chickpea in nearby districts
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
Will chickpea grow well in East Wellega?
East Wellega rates as favourable for chickpea.
When should I plant chickpea in East Wellega?
Typically 3 May 2027 to 23 May 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across East Wellega, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
