Polyhouse farming · Andhra Pradesh

Polyhouse Farming in Samalkot

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Samalkot, 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 Samalkot: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Samalkot? Samalkot is a town in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, home to about 57,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 390 km from Hyderabad. We have used the monthly climate for Samalkot 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 Samalkot

April is the hottest month in Samalkot, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 17°C.[2] The area gets about 1,173 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to October, peaking in October at about 220 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Samalkot sits about 9 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Samalkot falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Samalkot climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan29.917.3705
Feb33.319.0649
Mar36.922.15911
Apr38.524.85925
May37.926.86258
Jun33.626.073154
Jul31.224.881205
Aug30.024.386194
Sep29.924.287201
Oct29.923.184220
Nov28.820.18070
Dec28.317.77521
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Samalkot. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Samalkot

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Samalkot, 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 220 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 (July to December), 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 Samalkot?

For polyhouse farming in Samalkot, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in February to June, with moderate humidity of about 63%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 39°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 220 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.4 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 November to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Samalkot

Based on Samalkot's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (all year), chilli pepper (all year) and brinjal (all year). Cucumber fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Lilium and carnation 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 Samalkot.

Months each crop suits in Samalkot

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumAug–JanJun–Mar
TomatoAug–JanJul–Mar
CucumberJun–FebAll year
Chilli pepperJul–JanAll year
BrinjalJul–JanAll year
LettuceDifficultAug–Feb
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseDifficultNov–Feb
GerberaDifficultOct–Feb
CarnationDifficultDifficult
ChrysanthemumDifficultNov–Feb
AnthuriumAug–JanJun–Mar
OrchidsAug–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 Samalkot

Selling your harvest in and around Samalkot

57,000People in Samalkot (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,341Spending per person per month, urban Andhra Pradesh, 2023–24[5]
390 kmto Hyderabad, the nearest metro (straight line)

The Census counted 54,000 people in Samalkot in 2001 and 57,000 in 2011, a rise of 6%. In 1991 it was 49,000.[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] Local demand in Samalkot may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Kakinada, about 10 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Samalkot with Kryzen

We have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Samalkot is about 790 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Samalkot

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

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 Samalkot: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Samalkot?

Yes, with the right structure. For Samalkot 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 July, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Samalkot?

With April highs of about 39°C and 59% 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 Samalkot?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Samalkot?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Samalkot, cucumber and chilli pepper 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 Samalkot?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 790 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 Samalkot 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 · Samarlakota (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)