Planning polyhouse farming in Wai? Wai is a small town in Satara district, Maharashtra, home to about 36,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 60 km from Pune. This guide works from Wai'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 Wai
April is the hottest month in Wai, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 12°C.[3] The area gets about 1,910 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to October, peaking in July at about 573 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Wai sits about 718 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Wai falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]
Wai climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
28.9
12.4
53
1
Feb
32.4
14.6
44
1
Mar
35.9
17.8
39
4
Apr
38.2
20.3
43
5
May
36.2
21.6
58
37
Jun
28.9
22.1
82
410
Jul
26.1
21.7
90
573
Aug
25.6
21.0
92
457
Sep
26.5
20.4
90
286
Oct
27.8
18.5
81
112
Nov
27.4
15.4
72
21
Dec
27.3
13.0
62
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Wai. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Wai
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Wai, 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 573 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 Wai?
For polyhouse farming in Wai, 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 47%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C April afternoon down to roughly 30°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. 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 573 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 November to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Wai
Based on Wai'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 Wai.
Months each crop suits in Wai
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jun–Jan
All year
Tomato
Jun–Jan
All year
Cucumber
Feb and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Jun–Feb
All year
Brinjal
Feb and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Lettuce
Jul–Dec
Jun–Mar
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Rose
Aug–Dec
Aug–Mar
Gerbera
Jul–Dec
Jun–Mar
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Aug–Dec
Aug–Mar
Anthurium
Jun–Oct
Mar–Oct
Orchids
Jun–Oct
Mar–Oct
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]
60 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 Wai may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Pune, about 60 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Pune is within a day's delivery, about 60 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Wai with Kryzen
We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Wai is close to our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), so materials and our team are nearby.
Towns near Wai
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Wai:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Wai: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Wai?
Yes, with the right structure. For Wai 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 April to May, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Wai?
With April highs of about 38°C and 43% 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 Wai?
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 Wai?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Wai, 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 Wai?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 5 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 Wai 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.
