Divisi
When to plant Fonio in Windhoek West
Khomas, Namibia
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 | 19 Dec 2026 – 28 Dec 2026 opens in 11 weeks | 29 Aug 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 |
| Expected harvest | 0.3–0.5 t/ha | about 1.0 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 17 Feb 2027 to 27 Apr 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 meets its needs | 48% | |
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 19 Dec 2026. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
No seasonal forecast reaches Windhoek West yet, so these dates follow the rains it usually gets rather than this year's.
Planting after 28 Dec 2026 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Windhoek West
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 45% |
For fonio in Windhoek West, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 45%. 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 2026 season in Windhoek West
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | January 2026 to April 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 372 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January and February look short of rain. Plant at the early end of the window, favour quicker and more drought-tolerant crops, and keep moisture in the soil: mulch, and weed early. |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +2.1 °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 | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 75% of this area. |
| 75% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 89 growing days · about 380 mm · January to April |
|---|---|
| 21% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 90 growing days · about 390 mm · December to April |
| 4% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 104 growing days · about 400 mm · December to April |
last updated 17 September 2026
Limited water holds back about 60% 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 Windhoek West
| Nitrogen (N) | About 6 kg per hectare |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 2 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 6 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 Windhoek West 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
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Katutura Central
-
John Pandeni (Soweto)
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Khomasdal North
-
Moses Garoeb
-
Samora Machel (Wanaheda)
-
Tobias Hainyeko
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 Windhoek West?
Windhoek West rates as moderate for fonio.
When should I plant fonio in Windhoek West?
Typically 19 Dec 2026 to 28 Dec 2026, typical season.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Windhoek West, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
