Polyhouse farming · Odisha

Polyhouse Farming in Sundargarh

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Sundargarh? Sundargarh is a town in Sundargarh district, Odisha, home to about 45,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 450 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Sundargarh to plan a structure, a growing system and a crop calendar, so you can compare them with your own plot and buyers.

Climate for polyhouse farming in Sundargarh

May is the hottest month in Sundargarh, with average daily highs of about 42°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 11°C.[3] The area gets about 1,373 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 382 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Sundargarh sits about 233 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Sundargarh falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]

Sundargarh climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan25.210.75613
Feb29.914.34614
Mar35.319.43720
Apr40.224.83125
May42.028.03537
Jun36.327.161196
Jul30.724.683382
Aug29.524.288373
Sep29.523.686226
Oct28.920.47870
Nov26.515.3727
Dec24.211.46610
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Sundargarh. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Sundargarh

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, tomato can be grown for 10 months a year in Sundargarh, 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 382 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 Odisha can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Sundargarh?

For polyhouse farming in Sundargarh, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Sundargarh comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 42°C while average humidity is only about 33%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 42°C May afternoon down to roughly 31°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 February and July to November and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 382 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.7 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 Sundargarh

Based on Sundargarh's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are tomato (10 months), cucumber (10 months) and chilli pepper (9 months). Tomato fits July to April with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Sundargarh.

Months each crop suits in Sundargarh

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Apr and Jul–Nov
TomatoJul–FebJul–Apr
CucumberFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Apr and Jun–Nov
BrinjalFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Apr and Jun–Nov
LettuceNov–JanAug–Mar
BroccoliDifficultNov–Feb
StrawberryDecNov–Feb
RoseNov–JanOct–Mar
GerberaNov–JanOct–Mar
CarnationDecNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumNov–JanOct–Mar
AnthuriumAug–OctMar–Apr and Jun–Oct
OrchidsAug–OctMar–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 Sundargarh

Selling your harvest in and around Sundargarh

45,000People in Sundargarh (GeoNames)[1]
₹5,925Spending per person per month, urban Odisha, 2023–24[6]
450 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Odisha spent an average of ₹5,925 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Sundargarh may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Sambalpur, about 70 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Sundargarh with Kryzen

Sundargarh is about 940 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Sundargarh

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

Map of Odisha

Check other locations in Odisha

We have farm planning pages for 34 towns in Odisha, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Odisha locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Sundargarh: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Sundargarh?

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

Which polyhouse is best for Sundargarh?

With May highs of about 42°C and 35% 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 Sundargarh?

Going by the monthly climate, tomato, cucumber and chilli pepper have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Sundargarh?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 940 km away.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Odisha?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Odisha 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 Sundargarh 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 · Sundergarh (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)