Polyhouse farming · Maharashtra

Polyhouse Farming in Sasvad

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Sasvad? Sasvad is a small town in Pune district, Maharashtra, home to about 32,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 30 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 Sasvad

April is the hottest month in Sasvad, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 12°C.[3] The area gets about 1,730 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to October, peaking in July at about 515 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Sasvad sits about 585 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Sasvad falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]

Sasvad climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan27.911.8541
Feb31.414.0451
Mar35.117.4395
Apr37.820.0424
May36.221.45726
Jun29.322.080362
Jul26.321.589515
Aug25.820.991409
Sep26.520.289275
Oct27.618.280106
Nov27.115.07222
Dec26.712.6634
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Sasvad. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Sasvad

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Sasvad, 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 515 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 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.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Sasvad?

For polyhouse farming in Sasvad, 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 46%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C April afternoon down to roughly 30°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

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 515 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May 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 February, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Sasvad

Based on Sasvad'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 Sasvad.

Months each crop suits in Sasvad

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumJun–JanAll year
TomatoJun–JanAll year
CucumberFeb and Jun–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperJun–FebAll year
BrinjalFeb and Jun–NovFeb–Nov
LettuceJul–JanJun–Apr
BroccoliDifficultNov–Feb
StrawberryDifficultNov–Feb
RoseJul–JanJul–Apr
GerberaJul–JanJun–Apr
CarnationDifficultNov–Mar
ChrysanthemumJul–JanJul–Apr
AnthuriumJun–OctMar–Oct
OrchidsJun–OctMar–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 Sasvad

Selling your harvest in and around Sasvad

32,000People in Sasvad (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[6]
30 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 Sasvad may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Pune, about 30 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Pune is within a day's delivery, about 30 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Sasvad with Kryzen

We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Sasvad is about 40 km in a straight line from our Pune (PCMC) warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Sasvad

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

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 Sasvad: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Sasvad?

Yes, with the right structure. For Sasvad we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Sasvad?

With April highs of about 38°C and 42% 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 Sasvad?

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 Sasvad?

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

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 Sasvad 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 · Saswad (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)