Planning polyhouse farming in Lonavla? Lonavla is a town in Pune district, Maharashtra, home to about 58,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 50 km from Pune. This guide works from Lonavla'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 Lonavla
April is the hottest month in Lonavla, with average daily highs of about 35°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 13°C.[2] The area gets about 2,509 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to October, peaking in July at about 834 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Lonavla sits about 624 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Lonavla falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[3]
Lonavla climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
27.5
13.0
51
0
Feb
30.4
15.2
44
2
Mar
33.4
18.2
45
5
Apr
35.0
20.7
53
3
May
33.5
23.0
60
22
Jun
28.0
23.5
80
535
Jul
25.0
22.5
90
834
Aug
24.5
21.8
90
606
Sep
25.3
21.2
89
376
Oct
27.4
19.2
78
104
Nov
27.2
16.3
69
17
Dec
26.9
14.0
60
5
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Lonavla, adjusted for the town's elevation[4]. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Lonavla
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Lonavla, 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 834 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 (June to October), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Maharashtra can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Lonavla?
For polyhouse farming in Lonavla, 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 May, with moderate humidity of about 53%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 35°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.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 834 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 7.1 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 March and May, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Lonavla
Based on Lonavla's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and chilli pepper (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Lonavla.
Months each crop suits in Lonavla
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jun–Feb
All year
Tomato
Jun–Feb
All year
Cucumber
Feb–Mar and May–Dec
Feb–Dec
Chilli pepper
Jun–Feb
All year
Brinjal
Feb and Jun–Dec
Feb–Dec
Lettuce
Jun–Jan
All year
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Dec–Feb
Rose
Sep–Jan
Sep–Apr
Gerbera
Jun–Jan
All year
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Sep–Jan
Sep–Apr
Anthurium
Jun–Nov
Mar–Nov
Orchids
Jun–Nov
Mar–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.
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[6]
50 kmto Pune, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Maharashtra spent an average of ₹7,415 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Lonavla may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Panvel, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Pune is within a day's delivery, about 50 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Lonavla with Kryzen
We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Lonavla is about 40 km in a straight line from our Pune (PCMC) warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Lonavla
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Lonavla:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Lonavla: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Lonavla?
Yes, with the right structure. For Lonavla we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.
Which polyhouse is best for Lonavla?
With April highs of about 35°C and 53% 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 Lonavla?
Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, tomato and chilli pepper have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Lonavla?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Lonavla, 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 Lonavla?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Pune (PCMC) warehouse, about 40 km away, and we have built 95 projects in Maharashtra.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Maharashtra?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Maharashtra 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 Lonavla 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.
