Polyhouse farming · Gujarat

Polyhouse Farming in Wankaner

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Wankaner, with Fan & Pad cooling for dry summer heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Wankaner? Wankaner is a town in Morbi district, Gujarat, home to about 48,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 170 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 Wankaner

May is the hottest month in Wankaner, with average daily highs of about 42°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 11°C.[3] The area gets about 743 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 242 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Wankaner sits about 81 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Wankaner falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]

Wankaner climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan28.410.6321
Feb32.113.4321
Mar36.718.1332
Apr40.722.2382
May41.824.8464
Jun37.626.361111
Jul32.924.977242
Aug31.423.881224
Sep32.122.979135
Oct33.820.56114
Nov32.116.3466
Dec29.112.0381
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Wankaner. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Wankaner

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 11 months a year in Wankaner, 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 July's 242 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 September), so you spray less often.

  • 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.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Wankaner?

For polyhouse farming in Wankaner, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Wankaner comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 42°C while average humidity is only about 42%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 42°C May afternoon down to roughly 34°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.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 242 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 Wankaner

Based on Wankaner's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (11 months), capsicum (10 months) and tomato (10 months). Chilli pepper fits February to December with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Wankaner.

Months each crop suits in Wankaner

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumDecFeb–Apr and Jun–Dec
TomatoDec–JanJul–Apr
CucumberJul–NovMar–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb, Jul–Sep and Nov–DecFeb–Dec
BrinjalJul–Sep and NovMar–Nov
LettuceDifficultOct–Mar and Aug
BroccoliDifficultNov–Feb
StrawberryDifficultDec–Feb
RoseDifficultOct–Mar
GerberaDifficultOct–Mar
CarnationDifficultNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumDifficultOct–Mar
AnthuriumDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
OrchidsDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
LiliumDifficultNov–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.

Suggested crops for Wankaner

Selling your harvest in and around Wankaner

48,000People in Wankaner (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,198Spending per person per month, urban Gujarat, 2023–24[6]
170 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.[6] Local demand in Wankaner may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Morbi, about 30 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Ahmedabad is within a day's delivery, about 170 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Wankaner with Kryzen

We have built 12 projects in Gujarat so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Wankaner is about 410 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Wankaner

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

Map of Gujarat

Check other locations in Gujarat

We have farm planning pages for 75 towns in Gujarat, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Gujarat locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Wankaner: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Wankaner?

Yes, with the right structure. For Wankaner 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 Wankaner?

With May highs of about 42°C and 46% 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 Wankaner?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Wankaner?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 410 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 Wankaner 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. GeoNames · Geographical database: populated places of India (opens in a new tab)
  2. Wikipedia · Wankaner (opens in a new tab)
  3. NASA Langley Research Center · POWER Climatology API: long-term monthly averages (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rubel & Kottek, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna · World map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (opens in a new tab)
  6. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (opens in a new tab)