Polyhouse farming · Karnataka

Polyhouse Farming in Sira

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

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Sira? Sira is a town in Tumkur district, Karnataka, home to about 58,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 110 km from Bengaluru. We have used the monthly climate for Sira 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 Sira

April is the hottest month in Sira, with average daily highs of about 36°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 14°C.[3] The area gets about 798 mm of rain a year, most of it in May and July to October, peaking in September at about 140 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Sira sits about 661 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Sira falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]

Sira climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan30.113.9562
Feb33.216.0434
Mar35.719.63817
Apr35.922.24753
May33.221.564104
Jun29.319.97580
Jul28.319.377102
Aug28.019.079110
Sep28.018.980140
Oct27.818.280129
Nov27.216.17647
Dec27.714.06910
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Sira. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Sira

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Sira, 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 September's 140 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 (June to November), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Karnataka can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Sira?

For polyhouse farming in Sira, 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 May, with moderate humidity of about 48%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 36°C April afternoon down to roughly 29°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, cool enough for lettuce and other leafy greens. 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

Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.7 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 and June, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Sira

Based on Sira'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. Strawberry is hard to time here, so we would leave it out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Sira.

Months each crop suits in Sira

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumJun–JanAll year
TomatoJun–JanAll year
CucumberMay–FebAll year
Chilli pepperJun–JanAll year
BrinjalJun–JanAll year
LettuceAug–DecAll year
BroccoliDifficultNov–Jan
StrawberryDifficultDec–Jan
RoseAug–DecMay–Mar
GerberaAug–DecAll year
CarnationDifficultNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumAug–DecMay–Mar
AnthuriumJun–NovFeb–Nov
OrchidsJun–NovFeb–Nov
LiliumDifficultNov–Jan
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 Sira

Selling your harvest in and around Sira

58,000People in Sira (GeoNames)[1]
₹8,169Spending per person per month, urban Karnataka, 2023–24[6]
110 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Karnataka spent an average of ₹8,169 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Sira may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Tumkur, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Bengaluru is within a day's delivery, about 110 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Sira with Kryzen

We have built 38 projects in Karnataka so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Sira is about 570 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.

Towns near Sira

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

Map of Karnataka

Check other locations in Karnataka

We have farm planning pages for 82 towns in Karnataka, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Karnataka locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Sira: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Sira?

Yes, with the right structure. For Sira we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.

Which polyhouse is best for Sira?

With April highs of about 36°C and 47% 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 Sira?

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 Sira?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 570 km away, and we have built 38 projects in Karnataka.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Karnataka?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Karnataka 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 Sira 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 · Sira, Karnataka (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)