Polyhouse farming · Andhra Pradesh

Polyhouse Farming in Tenali

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Tenali? Tenali is a mid-sized city in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, home to about 1.7 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 260 km from Hyderabad. This guide works from Tenali's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.

Climate for polyhouse farming in Tenali

May is the hottest month in Tenali, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 20°C.[2] The area gets about 1,016 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to October, peaking in October at about 203 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Tenali sits about 15 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Tenali falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Tenali climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan29.419.7707
Feb32.121.1659
Mar35.023.6639
Apr36.626.06320
May37.628.16148
Jun34.627.466111
Jul33.026.171161
Aug31.625.478166
Sep30.825.282168
Oct30.324.281203
Nov29.021.78089
Dec28.419.87525
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Tenali. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Tenali

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Tenali, 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 203 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 (August 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 Tenali?

For polyhouse farming in Tenali, 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 July, with moderate humidity of about 65%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C May 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 203 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.5 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 Tenali

Based on Tenali's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (all year), chilli pepper (11 months) and brinjal (11 months). 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 Tenali.

Months each crop suits in Tenali

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumSep–JanJul–Apr
TomatoSep–JanAug–Mar
CucumberJul–FebAll year
Chilli pepperJul–FebJun–Apr
BrinjalJul–FebJun–Apr
LettuceDifficultOct–Feb
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseDifficultDec–Feb
GerberaDifficultNov–Feb
CarnationDifficultDifficult
ChrysanthemumDifficultDec–Feb
AnthuriumNov–JanJun–Mar
OrchidsNov–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 Tenali

Selling your harvest in and around Tenali

1.7 lakhPeople in Tenali (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,341Spending per person per month, urban Andhra Pradesh, 2023–24[5]
260 kmto Hyderabad, the nearest metro (straight line)

The Census counted 1.5 lakh people in Tenali in 2001 and 1.7 lakh in 2011, a rise of 7%. In 1991 it was 1.4 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] Tenali 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. Guntur, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Tenali with Kryzen

We have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Tenali is about 690 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Tenali

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

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 Tenali: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Tenali?

Yes, with the right structure. For Tenali 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 September, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Tenali?

With May highs of about 38°C and 61% 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 Tenali?

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 Tenali?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Tenali, 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 Tenali?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 690 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 Tenali 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 · Tenali (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)