Divisi
When to plant Fonio in South Gondar
Amhara, Ethiopia
Fonio (Digitaria exilis) — also called acha, hungry rice, findi or fundi — is West Africa's ancient small grain and the fastest cereal in the world: early types give grain in about 70 to 85 days, some in as little as 6 to 8 weeks.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Moderate | |
| When to plant | 24 Apr 2027 – 24 May 2027 opens in 29 weeks | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 0.5 t/ha | same |
| Harvest | From 23 Jun 2027 to 21 Sep 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 60–120 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 82–175 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 4 May 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for South Gondar leans wet. Plant at the early end of the window, and make sure water can drain off the field — a wet year does more damage through waterlogging than through the rain itself.
Planting after 24 May 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in South Gondar
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 30% |
For fonio in South Gondar, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 30%. 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 South Gondar
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | May 2027 to October 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 872 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — October 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 +1.2 °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 short crop, and only if timed to it, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 47% of this area. |
| 47% | 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 950 mm · May to October |
|---|---|
| 26% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 191 growing days · about 1,140 mm · April to October |
| 18% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 207 growing days · about 1,170 mm · April to November |
| 4% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 144 growing days · about 800 mm · May to October |
last updated 16 September 2026
Sloping ground holds back about 65% of yield here.
What fonio needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sand or sandy loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.0 and 6.5 |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen and phosphorus |
What it takes to grow fonio in South Gondar
| Nitrogen (N) | About 10 kg per hectare |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 3 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 10 kg per hectare |
| In the shops | A basal compound at planting — Compound D, or an NPK blend — covers the phosphate and potash. A nitrogen top dressing — urea or AN — goes on once the crop is established. |
| Hand work | 82–175 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a fonio 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 Fonio with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes South Gondar 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.
Fonio 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 fonio grow well in South Gondar?
South Gondar rates as moderate for fonio.
When should I plant fonio in South Gondar?
Typically 24 Apr 2027 to 24 May 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across South Gondar, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
