Polyhouse farming · Punjab

Polyhouse Farming in Barnala

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Barnala, with Fan & Pad cooling for dry summer heat.

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

Polyhouse farming in Barnala: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Barnala? Barnala is a mid-sized city in Barnala district, Punjab, home to about 1.2 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 250 km from Delhi. 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 Barnala

May is the hottest month in Barnala, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 5°C.[3] The area gets about 566 mm of rain a year. The wettest months are July to August, peaking in July at about 139 mm. Barnala sits about 227 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Barnala falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]

Barnala climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan19.95.04520
Feb24.18.34425
Mar30.814.13725
Apr37.720.72817
May42.526.82325
Jun42.529.73476
Jul38.828.654139
Aug36.626.862128
Sep35.423.55892
Oct32.918.4426
Nov27.112.3385
Dec21.97.1408
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Barnala. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Barnala

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Barnala cucumber can be grown for about 7 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.

  • 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

    With only about 566 mm of rain a year here, drip irrigation under cover saves water: less is lost to evaporation and run-off than in the open field.

  • Less pesticides

    Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Punjab can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Barnala?

For polyhouse farming in Barnala, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Barnala comes with dry air. In May to July, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 37%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 43°C May 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. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from March and November and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Sunlight peaks in May 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 March and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Barnala

Based on Barnala's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (7 months), chilli pepper (7 months) and lettuce (7 months). Cucumber fits March to May and July to October with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Barnala.

Months each crop suits in Barnala

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumMar and NovMar–Apr and Sep–Nov
TomatoMar and NovMar–Apr and Sep–Nov
CucumberMar and OctMar–May and Jul–Oct
Chilli pepperMar and Oct–NovMar–May and Aug–Nov
BrinjalMar and OctMar–May and Aug–Oct
LettuceNov–FebOct–Apr
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Mar
StrawberryDec–FebNov–Mar
RoseNovMar–Apr and Oct–Nov
GerberaNovMar–Apr and Oct–Nov
CarnationFebFeb–Mar and Nov
ChrysanthemumNovMar–Apr and Oct–Nov
AnthuriumDifficultApr–May and Sep–Oct
OrchidsDifficultApr–May and Sep–Oct
LiliumDifficultFeb–Mar and 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.

Suggested crops for Barnala

Selling your harvest in and around Barnala

1.2 lakhPeople in Barnala (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,383Spending per person per month, urban Punjab, 2023–24[6]
250 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Punjab spent an average of ₹7,383 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Barnala may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Delhi is within a day's delivery, about 250 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Barnala with Kryzen

We have built 4 projects in Punjab so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Barnala is about 1,170 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Barnala

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

Map of Punjab

Check other locations in Punjab

We have farm planning pages for 55 towns in Punjab, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Punjab locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Barnala: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Barnala?

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

Which polyhouse is best for Barnala?

With May highs of about 43°C and 23% 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 Barnala?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Barnala?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Barnala, cucumber and chilli pepper 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 Barnala?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 1,170 km away, and we have built 4 projects in Punjab.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Punjab 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 Barnala 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 · Barnala (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)