Polyhouse farming · Andhra Pradesh

Polyhouse Farming in Chittoor

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Chittoor, with Fan & Pad for greens, natural ventilation for vine crops.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 6 min read

Polyhouse farming in Chittoor: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Chittoor? Chittoor is a mid-sized city in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, home to about 1.6 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 130 km from Chennai. We have used the monthly climate for Chittoor to plan a structure, a growing system and a crop calendar, so you can compare them with your own plot and buyers.

Climate for polyhouse farming in Chittoor

April is the hottest month in Chittoor, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 17°C.[2] The area gets about 1,058 mm of rain a year, most of it in July to November, peaking in October at about 202 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in September to January, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Chittoor sits about 333 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Chittoor falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Chittoor climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan28.516.57712
Feb32.217.4676
Mar36.420.45916
Apr38.223.55833
May37.425.55867
Jun35.024.56171
Jul34.023.665106
Aug33.123.170123
Sep31.822.776144
Oct30.021.981202
Nov27.919.885198
Dec27.117.78380
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Chittoor. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Chittoor

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Chittoor, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.

  • Better yield and price

    Plants grow without rain, hail and wind damage, so yields are higher and more even, and clean, graded produce sells at a better price, especially off-season.

  • Less water

    Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps October's 202 mm of rain off the crop and the soil.

  • Less pesticides

    Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, and controlled ventilation helps with leaf disease in the humid months (September to January), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Andhra Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Chittoor?

For polyhouse farming in Chittoor, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in March to August, with moderate humidity of about 62%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C April afternoon down to roughly 33°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. Capsicum, cucumber and tomato do well in a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen. If you want one structure, decide by crop: greens all year point to Fan & Pad; vine crops point to a naturally ventilated house.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in October (about 202 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.6 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months. A nethouse, the lowest-cost option, can grow hardy crops in December to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Chittoor

Based on Chittoor's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and cucumber (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Lilium and strawberry are hard to time here, so we would leave them out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Chittoor.

Months each crop suits in Chittoor

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumOct–JanAll year
TomatoOct–JanAll year
CucumberJul–FebAll year
Chilli pepperSep–FebAll year
BrinjalSep–FebAll year
LettuceNov–DecSep–Feb
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseNov–DecNov–Feb
GerberaNov–DecSep–Feb
CarnationDifficultJan
ChrysanthemumNov–DecNov–Feb
AnthuriumOct–JanJun–Mar
OrchidsOct–JanJun–Mar
LiliumDifficultDifficult
Kryzen planning estimate from the monthly averages above and each crop's usual day and night temperature range. Variety, soil or substrate temperature and shading change the result, so confirm with a trial.

Suggested crops for Chittoor

Selling your harvest in and around Chittoor

1.6 lakhPeople in Chittoor (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,341Spending per person per month, urban Andhra Pradesh, 2023–24[5]
130 kmto Chennai, the nearest metro (straight line)

The Census counted 1.5 lakh people in Chittoor in 2001 and 1.6 lakh in 2011, a rise of 5%. In 1991 it was 1.3 lakh.[1] Urban households in Andhra Pradesh spent an average of ₹7,341 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Chittoor is large enough for steady local sales to restaurants, hotels and fruit-and-vegetable retailers. Start with a farm size that matches the orders you can confirm. Vellore, about 30 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Chennai is within a day's delivery, about 130 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Chittoor with Kryzen

We have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Chittoor is about 770 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.

Towns near Chittoor

We also plan and build farms in these towns near Chittoor:

Map of Andhra Pradesh

Check other locations in Andhra Pradesh

We have farm planning pages for 84 towns in Andhra Pradesh, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Andhra Pradesh locations

Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.

Polyhouse farming in Chittoor: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Chittoor?

Yes, with the right structure. For Chittoor we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in March to August, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Chittoor?

With April highs of about 38°C and 58% average humidity in that month, we would start with Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Chittoor?

Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, tomato and cucumber have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Chittoor?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Chittoor, capsicum and tomato have the longest seasons under cover. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers first; our Detailed Project Report works out the cost, yield and returns for your plot.

Does Kryzen build polyhouses in Chittoor?

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 770 km away, and we have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Andhra Pradesh?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Andhra Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department. Check the current rate and area limit when you apply.

Discuss your Chittoor farm project

Share your plot location, water test and crop targets. We will suggest the right structure and growing system, and send an itemised quotation.

Sudhir Devkar

Sudhir Devkar

Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

A computer engineer turned hydroponic farmer from a multigenerational farming family in Satara. Sudhir founded Kryzen in 2019, and the team has since built 350+ protected and hydroponic farms across India.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia · Chittoor (opens in a new tab)
  2. NASA Langley Research Center · POWER Climatology API: long-term monthly averages (opens in a new tab)
  3. Rubel & Kottek, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna · World map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (opens in a new tab)
  4. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (opens in a new tab)