Climate of Tropical Africa

Crop growth and production depend on the genetic constitution of the plant, soil characteristics, and the
climate in which the plant grows. Climate is defined as the aggregate of all the external conditions and
influences affecting the life and development of organisms. Climate has an important influence on the
nature of the natural vegetation, the characteristics of the soil, the crops that can be grown and the type of
farming that can be practiced in any region.

ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE

The climate of any region is composed of a great variety of elements and it is very unlikely that two
different places can have an identical climate. The following are the major elements of climate:

 Rain fall
 Temperature – Min & Max
 Humidity
 Wind
 Solar radiation, sunshine, light and cloudiness.

Rainfall

Rainfall is the most important climatic factor influencing agriculture in the tropics, as it has the biggest
effect in determining the potential of any area; the crops which can be grown, the farming system, and the
sequence and timing of farming operations. For agriculture, it is not the only the total amount of rainfall
per annum that is important, but also its seasonal distribution, its variability, its reliability within and
between seasons, its intensity and rate of infiltration into the soil, and the balance between rainfall and
evapotranspiration (loss of water through evaporation and transpiration).

1. Describing Agro-climatic zones: Recommendations of SWC measures

The major traditional agro-climatic zones (Wurch, dega, weyna dega, and kolla) are taken as the basis for
the classification of agro-climatic zones used in this manual/guideline. These zones have been divided
further according to variations in rainfall, temperature, and altitude. The agro-climatic classification of
Ethiopia consists of 11 zones, however, the two extreme (extreme highland-high Wurch and extreme
lowland-bereha) are not used for conservation recommendations in the manual/guidelines.
1.1 Agro climatic zone: Wet Wurch
a. Altitude range = 3200-3700m asl
b. Annual rainfall = over 1400 mm
c. Average Temperature = 7-12 OC

1.2 Agro climatic zone: Moist Wurch

d. Altitude range = 3200-3700m asl
e. Annual rainfall = 900-1400 mm
f. Average Temperature = 7-12 OC

1.3 Agro climatic zone: Wet Dega

g. Altitude range = 2300-3200m asl
h. Annual rainfall = over 1400 mm
i. Average Temperature = 12-18 OC

1.4 Agro climatic zone: Moist Dega

j. Altitude range = 2300-3200m asl
k. Annual rainfall = 900-1400 mm
l. Average Temperature = 12-18 OC

1.5 Agro climatic zone: Moist Weyna Dega

m. Altitude range = 1500-2300m asl
n. Annual rainfall = 900-1400 mm
o. Average Temperature = 18-25 OC

1.6 Agro climatic zone: Dry Weyna Dega

p. Altitude range = 1500-2300m asl
q. Annual rainfall = 300-900 mm
r. Average Temperature = 18-25 OC
1.7 Agro climatic zone: Moist Kolla
 s. Altitude range = 500-1500m asl
t. Annual rainfall = 900-1400 mm
u. Average Temperature = over 25 OC

1.8 Agro climatic zone: Dry Kolla

v. Altitude range = 500-1500m asl
w. Annual rainfall = 300-900 mm
x. Average Temperature = over 25 OC