Planning polyhouse farming in Rajkot? Rajkot is a city of about 12.9 lakh people (Census 2011) in Rajkot district, Gujarat[1], about 200 km from Ahmedabad. Below we use the town's monthly temperatures, humidity and rainfall to work out which structure fits, which crops to grow and in which months, before you spend on construction.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Rajkot
May is the hottest month in Rajkot, with average daily highs of about 40°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 11°C.[2] The area gets about 714 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 236 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Rajkot sits about 128 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Rajkot falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[3]
Rajkot climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
28.1
11.2
37
1
Feb
31.4
13.8
38
0
Mar
35.7
18.2
42
1
Apr
39.2
22.0
47
2
May
39.6
24.9
54
4
Jun
36.6
26.7
64
104
Jul
32.6
25.5
77
236
Aug
31.2
24.3
82
214
Sep
32.0
23.4
79
131
Oct
34.0
21.1
62
13
Nov
32.1
17.1
47
8
Dec
28.9
12.7
41
0
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Rajkot. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Rajkot
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 11 months a year in Rajkot, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.
2
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.
3
Less water
Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps July's 236 mm of rain off the crop and the soil.
4
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 September), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Gujarat can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]
Which polyhouse suits Rajkot?
For polyhouse farming in Rajkot, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Rajkot comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 40°C while average humidity is only about 51%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 40°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. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from December and costs less to run.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 236 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.4 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 October to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Rajkot
Based on Rajkot's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (11 months), tomato (10 months) and cucumber (10 months). Chilli pepper fits February to December with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Rajkot.
Months each crop suits in Rajkot
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Dec
Feb–Apr and Jul–Dec
Tomato
Dec–Jan
Jul–Apr
Cucumber
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb, Jul–Sep and Nov–Dec
Feb–Dec
Brinjal
Feb, Jul–Sep and Nov
Feb–Nov
Lettuce
Difficult
Oct–Mar and Aug
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Dec–Feb
Rose
Difficult
Oct–Mar
Gerbera
Difficult
Oct–Mar
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Oct–Mar
Anthurium
Difficult
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Orchids
Difficult
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Lilium
Difficult
Nov–Feb
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.
₹7,198Spending per person per month, urban Gujarat, 2023–24[5]
200 kmto Ahmedabad, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Gujarat spent an average of ₹7,198 per person per month in 2023–24, close to the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] A city of this size has hotels, restaurants, modern retail and quick-commerce stores within its own limits, so most harvests can be sold locally. Line up two or three buyers before planting and agree on grade and delivery days.
Polyhouse farming in Rajkot with Kryzen
We have built 12 projects in Gujarat so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Rajkot is about 400 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Rajkot
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Rajkot:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Rajkot: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Rajkot?
Yes, with the right structure. For Rajkot we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to July and September, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Rajkot?
With May highs of about 40°C and 54% average humidity in that month, we would start with a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Rajkot?
Going by the monthly climate, chilli pepper, tomato and cucumber have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Rajkot?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Rajkot, chilli pepper 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 Rajkot?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 400 km away, and we have built 12 projects in Gujarat.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Gujarat?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Gujarat 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 Rajkot 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.
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.
