Polyhouse farming · Rajasthan

Polyhouse Farming in Kota

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Kota? Kota is a city of about 10 lakh people (GeoNames) in Kota district, Rajasthan[1][2], about 410 km from Delhi. We have used the monthly climate for Kota 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 Kota

May is the hottest month in Kota, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 8°C.[3] The area gets about 761 mm of rain a year, most of it in July to September, peaking in August at about 262 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Kota sits about 271 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Kota falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]

Kota climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan24.27.8395
Feb28.410.8338
Mar34.116.4269
Apr39.622.6216
May42.627.7239
Jun39.828.34486
Jul33.525.372251
Aug30.823.883262
Sep31.522.376104
Oct32.218.55612
Nov29.014.1467
Dec25.39.6422
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Kota. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Kota

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Kota tomato can be grown for about 9 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

    Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps August's 262 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 (August to September), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

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

Which polyhouse suits Kota?

For polyhouse farming in Kota, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Kota comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 29%. 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 August and November and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in August (about 262 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.2 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 February and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Kota

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

Months each crop suits in Kota

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumAug and NovMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
TomatoFeb, Aug and Nov–DecFeb–Apr and Jul–Dec
CucumberJul–NovMar–Nov
Chilli pepperAug–NovMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
BrinjalAug–NovMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
LettuceDec–JanAug–Apr
BroccoliDifficultNov–Mar
StrawberryJanNov–Feb
RoseDecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
GerberaDecFeb–Apr and Sep–Dec
CarnationJanNov–Mar
ChrysanthemumDecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
AnthuriumDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
OrchidsDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
LiliumDifficultNov–Mar
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 Kota

Selling your harvest in and around Kota

10 lakhPeople in Kota (GeoNames)[1]
₹6,640Spending per person per month, urban Rajasthan, 2023–24[6]
410 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Rajasthan spent an average of ₹6,640 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] A city of this size has hotels, restaurants, modern retail and quick-commerce stores within its own limits, so most harvests can be sold locally. Line up two or three buyers before planting and agree on grade and delivery days.

Polyhouse farming in Kota with Kryzen

We have built 6 projects in Rajasthan so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Kota is about 590 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Kota

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

Map of Rajasthan

Check other locations in Rajasthan

We have farm planning pages for 79 towns in Rajasthan, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Rajasthan locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Kota: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Kota?

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

Which polyhouse is best for Kota?

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 Kota?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Kota?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 590 km away, and we have built 6 projects in Rajasthan.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Rajasthan 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 Kota 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 · Kota, Rajasthan (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)