Polyhouse farming · Maharashtra

Polyhouse Farming in Nagpur

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Nagpur, 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 Nagpur: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Nagpur? Nagpur is a city of about 46.5 lakh people (Census 2011) in Maharashtra[1], about 420 km from Hyderabad. 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 Nagpur

May is the hottest month in Nagpur, with average daily highs of about 44°C. December has the coolest nights, averaging 12°C.[2] The area gets about 1,234 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 361 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Nagpur falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Nagpur climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan29.111.94315
Feb33.215.63510
Mar37.620.32920
Apr42.125.52313
May44.129.32521
Jun37.027.058223
Jul30.623.982361
Aug29.423.487310
Sep30.022.885200
Oct29.719.37648
Nov28.814.96810
Dec28.211.7563
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Nagpur. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Nagpur

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 11 months a year in Nagpur, 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 361 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 October), so you spray less often.

  • 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.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Nagpur?

For polyhouse farming in Nagpur, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Nagpur comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 44°C while average humidity is only about 24%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 44°C May afternoon down to roughly 32°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 July to January and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 361 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 7.0 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 Nagpur

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

Months each crop suits in Nagpur

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumJul–JanJul–Apr
TomatoJul–JanJul–Apr
CucumberFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperJul–JanJun–Apr
BrinjalJul–NovFeb–Apr and Jun–Nov
LettuceDifficultJul–Mar
BroccoliDifficultNov–Feb
StrawberryDifficultNov–Jan
RoseDifficultOct–Mar
GerberaDifficultAug–Mar
CarnationDifficultNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumDifficultOct–Mar
AnthuriumAug–OctFeb–Apr and Jun–Oct
OrchidsAug–OctFeb–Apr and Jun–Oct
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 Nagpur

Selling your harvest in and around Nagpur

46.5 lakhPeople in Nagpur (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[5]
420 kmto Hyderabad, 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.[5] A city of this size has hotels, restaurants, modern retail and quick-commerce stores within its own limits, so most harvests can be sold locally. Line up two or three buyers before planting and agree on grade and delivery days.

Polyhouse farming in Nagpur with Kryzen

We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Nagpur is about 410 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Nagpur

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

Map of Maharashtra

Check other locations in Maharashtra

We have farm planning pages for 130 towns in Maharashtra, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Maharashtra locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Nagpur: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Nagpur?

Yes, with the right structure. For Nagpur we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to June, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Nagpur?

With May highs of about 44°C and 25% 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 Nagpur?

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 Nagpur?

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

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