Planning polyhouse farming in Shillong? Shillong is a mid-sized city in East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, home to about 1.4 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 490 km from Kolkata. 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 Shillong
August is the hottest month in Shillong, with average daily highs of about 23°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 4°C.[2] The area gets about 3,043 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to October, peaking in July at about 586 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in April to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Shillong sits about 1,525 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Shillong falls in the subtropical highland with dry winters zone (Cwb).[3]
Shillong climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
14.8
3.5
74
9
Feb
17.0
5.6
68
29
Mar
20.1
9.3
65
82
Apr
22.0
13.3
78
318
May
22.9
15.8
85
419
Jun
23.1
17.9
90
574
Jul
23.1
18.4
92
586
Aug
23.4
18.2
91
446
Sep
22.6
17.2
91
355
Oct
21.4
13.8
86
192
Nov
18.6
9.0
82
18
Dec
15.8
5.5
80
15
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Shillong, 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 Shillong
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, lettuce can be grown for the whole year in Shillong, 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 586 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 (April to December), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Meghalaya can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Shillong?
For polyhouse farming in Shillong, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Shillong: average lows fall to 4°C in January, and nights stay at 8°C or below in December to February. A naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up side curtains traps daytime warmth; close the curtains at night in those months. Summer highs reach about 23°C in August, so roof vents and a shade screen are enough. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely worth its running cost here.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 586 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Crops for Shillong
Based on Shillong's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (all year), broccoli (9 months) and capsicum (7 months). Lettuce fits all year in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Shillong.
Months each crop suits in Shillong
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
Apr–Oct
Tomato
Apr–Oct
Cucumber
May–Oct
Chilli pepper
Apr–Oct
Brinjal
May–Oct
Lettuce
All year
Broccoli
Sep–May
Strawberry
Oct–Apr
Rose
Apr–Oct
Gerbera
Apr–Oct
Carnation
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
Chrysanthemum
Apr–Oct
Anthurium
May–Sep
Orchids
May–Sep
Lilium
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
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.
₹7,857Spending per person per month, urban Meghalaya, 2023–24[6]
490 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Meghalaya spent an average of ₹7,857 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Shillong may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Guwahati, about 70 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Shillong with Kryzen
We have built one project in Meghalaya so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Shillong is about 1,810 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Shillong
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Shillong:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Shillong: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Shillong?
Yes, with the right structure. For Shillong we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which polyhouse is best for Shillong?
With August highs of about 23°C and 91% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Shillong?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, broccoli and capsicum have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Shillong?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Shillong, lettuce and broccoli 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 Shillong?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,810 km away, and we have built one project in Meghalaya.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Meghalaya?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Meghalaya 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 Shillong 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.
