Planning polyhouse farming in Mangalvedhe? Mangalvedhe is a small town in Solapur district, Maharashtra, home to about 22,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 200 km from Pune. 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 Mangalvedhe
April is the hottest month in Mangalvedhe, with average daily highs of about 41°C. December has the coolest nights, averaging 14°C.[3] The area gets about 598 mm of rain a year. The wettest months are July to September, peaking in September at about 138 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Mangalvedhe sits about 458 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Mangalvedhe falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]
Mangalvedhe climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
31.4
14.3
40
2
Feb
34.8
17.4
31
2
Mar
38.0
21.2
28
9
Apr
40.5
25.0
30
14
May
40.3
25.7
39
32
Jun
33.7
23.3
65
92
Jul
31.4
22.1
72
104
Aug
31.0
21.4
74
107
Sep
31.0
21.3
75
138
Oct
31.1
19.3
71
81
Nov
30.5
16.1
64
15
Dec
30.2
13.9
52
2
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Mangalvedhe. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Mangalvedhe
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Mangalvedhe, 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
With only about 598 mm of rain a year here, drip irrigation under cover saves water: less is lost to evaporation and run-off than in the open field.
4
Less pesticides
Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, and controlled ventilation helps with leaf disease in the humid months (September), 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 Mangalvedhe?
For polyhouse farming in Mangalvedhe, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Mangalvedhe comes with dry air. In March to May, average highs reach 41°C while average humidity is only about 32%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 41°C April afternoon down to roughly 29°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, cool enough for lettuce and other leafy greens. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from August to September and November to December and costs less to run.
Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.9 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 January and June, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Mangalvedhe
Based on Mangalvedhe's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), cucumber (all year) and chilli pepper (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 Mangalvedhe.
Months each crop suits in Mangalvedhe
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Aug–Sep and Nov–Dec
All year
Tomato
Aug–Sep and Nov–Dec
Jun–Apr
Cucumber
Jun–Jan
All year
Chilli pepper
Jul–Jan
All year
Brinjal
Jul–Jan
All year
Lettuce
Difficult
Jun–Mar
Broccoli
Difficult
Dec–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Dec–Jan
Rose
Difficult
Aug–Mar
Gerbera
Difficult
Jun–Mar
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Aug–Mar
Anthurium
Difficult
Feb–Nov
Orchids
Difficult
Feb–Nov
Lilium
Difficult
Dec–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]
200 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 Mangalvedhe may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Solapur, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Pune is within a day's delivery, about 200 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Mangalvedhe with Kryzen
We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Mangalvedhe is about 170 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Mangalvedhe
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Mangalvedhe:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Mangalvedhe: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Mangalvedhe?
Yes, with the right structure. For Mangalvedhe we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to May, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Mangalvedhe?
With April highs of about 41°C and 30% 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 Mangalvedhe?
Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, cucumber and chilli pepper have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Mangalvedhe?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Mangalvedhe, capsicum and cucumber 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 Mangalvedhe?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 170 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 Mangalvedhe 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.
