Estimate when your crops will be ready to harvest in Zambia. Growth stage timelines, key farming dates, and temperature/altitude adjustments for Zambia's agricultural zones.
Zambia's main rainy season runs November to April, with a dry season from May to October — timing plantings and water budgets around these windows matters more than any single input price.
| Agriculture share of GDP | ~3% |
|---|---|
| Arable land | 3,800,000 ha |
| Irrigated share | ~3% |
| Main rainy season | November to April |
| Main food crops | maize, cassava, groundnut, sorghum, millet, sweet potato |
| Main export crops | tobacco, cotton, sugar cane, soybean |
| Region | Annual rainfall | Major crops |
|---|---|---|
| Zone I — Southern/Valley (Lusaka, Southern, Luapula) | 800 mm | maize, cotton, sugar cane, groundnut |
| Zone II — Central Plateau (Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, parts of Northern) | 1000 mm | maize, soybean, tobacco, wheat |
| Zone III — Northern (Northern, Luapula, North-Western) | 1300 mm | cassava, millet, rice, sweet potato |
Country context from the AfroTools agriculture dataset — planning reference, not agronomic advice. Confirm with local extension services.