Divisi
When to plant Sesame in Daawa
Somali, 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 | Moderate | |
| When to plant | 6 Mar 2027 – 26 Mar 2027 opens in 22 weeks | 20 Jul 2026 – 10 Feb 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 0.3 t/ha | about 1.4 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 4 Jun 2027 to 3 Aug 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 meets its needs | 57% | |
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 6 Mar 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for Daawa 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 26 Mar 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Daawa
| Rain and temperature | 88% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 45% |
For sesame in Daawa, 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 2027 season in Daawa
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | March 2027 to May 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 378 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — make sure water can drain off the field. |
| 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 38% of this area. |
| 38% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 120 growing days · about 390 mm · March to May |
|---|---|
| 36% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 95 growing days · about 330 mm |
| 26% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 133 growing days · about 450 mm · March to June |
last updated 16 September 2026
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 Daawa
| Planting material | About 265,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 16 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 4 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 15 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 Daawa 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 Daawa?
Daawa rates as moderate for sesame.
When should I plant sesame in Daawa?
Typically 6 Mar 2027 to 26 Mar 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Daawa, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
