Polyhouse farming · Kerala

Polyhouse Farming in Kannur

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Kannur, with a well-ventilated polyhouse for humid heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Kannur? Kannur is a town in Kannur district, Kerala, home to about 63,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 270 km from Bengaluru. This guide works from Kannur'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 Kannur

March is the hottest month in Kannur, with average daily highs of about 36°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 20°C.[3] The area gets about 2,891 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to November, peaking in July at about 700 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Kannur falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[4]

Kannur climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan32.620.4674
Feb34.821.6616
Mar36.023.56325
Apr34.924.87278
May32.425.081222
Jun29.224.589659
Jul28.123.992700
Aug28.223.592506
Sep28.823.390308
Oct29.323.388254
Nov29.722.483108
Dec30.220.97521
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Kannur, adjusted for the town's elevation[5]. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Kannur

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Kannur cucumber can be grown for about 9 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.

  • 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 700 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 (May to December), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Kerala can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[6]

Which polyhouse suits Kannur?

For polyhouse farming in Kannur, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Kannur the heat comes with humidity: during February to April average humidity is about 65%. Wet pads cool much less in humid air: on a typical March afternoon they would only bring 36°C down to about 32°C. So we usually start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide roof vents, insect net and a shade screen. A Fan & Pad polyhouse still makes sense if buyers need lettuce through the hottest months, but expect a smaller temperature drop than in dry inland towns.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 700 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in March at about 6.5 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months.

Crops for Kannur

Based on Kannur's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (9 months), chilli pepper (9 months) and brinjal (9 months). Cucumber fits May to January in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and chrysanthemum 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 Kannur.

Months each crop suits in Kannur

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumJun–DecAll year
TomatoJun–DecAll year
CucumberMay–JanAll year
Chilli pepperMay–JanAll year
BrinjalMay–JanAll year
LettuceDifficultJun–Jan
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseDifficultDec–Jan
GerberaDifficultAug–Jan
CarnationDifficultDifficult
ChrysanthemumDifficultDec–Jan
AnthuriumJun–NovAll year
OrchidsJun–NovAll year
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 Kannur

Selling your harvest in and around Kannur

63,000People in Kannur (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,834Spending per person per month, urban Kerala, 2023–24[7]
270 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Kerala spent an average of ₹7,834 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[7] Local demand in Kannur may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.

Polyhouse farming in Kannur with Kryzen

Kannur is about 690 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.

Towns near Kannur

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

Map of Kerala

Check other locations in Kerala

We have farm planning pages for 51 towns in Kerala, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Kerala locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Kannur: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Kannur?

Yes, with the right structure. For Kannur we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in February to May, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Kannur?

With March highs of about 36°C and 63% average humidity in that month, we would start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Kannur?

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 Kannur?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 690 km away.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Kerala 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 Kannur 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 · Kannur (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. Registry of Open Data on AWS · Terrain Tiles: global elevation data (opens in a new tab)
  6. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (opens in a new tab)
  7. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (opens in a new tab)