Divisi
When to plant Sesame in Awi
Amhara, Ethiopia
Known here as selit
Sesame — also called simsim or benniseed — is a tough, upright oilseed that grows from knee to shoulder height and gives a seed that is about half oil.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 2 May 2027 – 1 Jun 2027 opens in 31 weeks | 1 Jan 2026 – 30 Sep 2026 |
| Expected harvest | about 0.8 t/ha | same |
| Harvest | From 31 Jul 2027 to 9 Oct 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 90–130 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 65–129 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 2 May 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Awi is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 1 Jun 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Awi
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 45% |
For sesame in Awi, 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 Awi
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | April 2026 to November 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,652 mm |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 1,652 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter 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 supports | enough rain for one full main crop, 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 39% of this area. |
| 39% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 220 growing days · about 1,590 mm · April to November |
|---|---|
| 26% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 159 growing days · about 1,020 mm · May to October |
| 21% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 209 growing days · about 1,360 mm · April to November |
| 9% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 274 growing days · about 1,810 mm · March to December |
last updated 16 September 2026
Sloping ground holds back about 35% of yield here.
What sesame needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam or loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.5 and 7.5 |
| Rain it needs | About 300–600 mm across the season |
| Spacing | 37 cm between rows, 7 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, phosphorus and boron |
What it takes to grow sesame in Awi
| Planting material | About 265,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 44 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 12 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 40 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 | 65–129 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a sesame 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 Sesame with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Awi 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.
Sesame 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 sesame grow well in Awi?
Awi rates as favourable for sesame.
When should I plant sesame in Awi?
Typically 2 May 2027 to 1 Jun 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Awi, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
