Polyhouse farming · Rajasthan

Polyhouse Farming in Mount Abu

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Mount Abu, with Fan & Pad for greens, natural ventilation for vine crops.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 6 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Mount Abu? Mount Abu is a small town in Sirohi district, Rajasthan, home to about 23,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 170 km from Ahmedabad. We have used the monthly climate for Mount Abu 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 Mount Abu

May is the hottest month in Mount Abu, with average daily highs of about 36°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 6°C.[2] The area gets about 643 mm of rain a year, most of it in July to August, peaking in August at about 231 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Mount Abu sits about 1,220 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Mount Abu falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]

Mount Abu climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan20.55.7301
Feb24.18.7252
Mar29.113.8234
Apr33.818.4244
May35.921.5347
Jun33.323.05164
Jul28.321.271221
Aug25.519.781231
Sep26.418.57596
Oct27.815.7507
Nov25.111.6384
Dec21.67.4332
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Mount Abu, 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 Mount Abu

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, lettuce can be grown for the whole year in Mount Abu, 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

    With only about 643 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, 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 Mount Abu?

For polyhouse farming in Mount Abu, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in April to June, with moderate humidity of about 36%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 36°C May afternoon down to roughly 26°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, cool enough for lettuce and other leafy greens. 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.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in August (about 231 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.5 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 to April, June and September to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Mount Abu

Based on Mount Abu's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (all year), capsicum (9 months) and tomato (9 months). Lettuce fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Mount Abu.

Months each crop suits in Mount Abu

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumMar and Jul–NovMar–Nov
TomatoMar and Jul–NovMar–Nov
CucumberMar–Apr and Jun–OctMar–Oct
Chilli pepperMar and Jul–NovMar–Nov
BrinjalMar and Jul–OctMar–Oct
LettuceAug–FebAll year
BroccoliDec–JanOct–Mar
StrawberryDec–FebNov–Mar
RoseAug–NovMar–May and Jul–Nov
GerberaAug–NovMar–Nov
CarnationFebFeb–Mar and Oct–Nov
ChrysanthemumAug–NovMar–May and Jul–Nov
AnthuriumJul–OctApr–Oct
OrchidsJul–OctApr–Oct
LiliumDifficultFeb–Mar and Oct–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 Mount Abu

Selling your harvest in and around Mount Abu

23,000People in Mount Abu (Census 2011)[1]
₹6,640Spending per person per month, urban Rajasthan, 2023–24[6]
170 kmto Ahmedabad, 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] Local demand in Mount Abu may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Ahmedabad is within a day's delivery, about 170 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Mount Abu with Kryzen

We have built 6 projects in Rajasthan so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Mount Abu is about 520 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Mount Abu

We also plan and build farms in these towns near Mount Abu:

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 Mount Abu: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Mount Abu?

Yes, with the right structure. For Mount Abu we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.

Which polyhouse is best for Mount Abu?

With May highs of about 36°C and 34% 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 Mount Abu?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Mount Abu?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Mount Abu, lettuce and capsicum 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 Mount Abu?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 520 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 Mount Abu 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. Wikipedia · Abu Raj (opens in a new tab)
  2. NASA Langley Research Center · POWER Climatology API: long-term monthly averages (opens in a new tab)
  3. Rubel & Kottek, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna · World map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (opens in a new tab)
  4. Registry of Open Data on AWS · Terrain Tiles: global elevation data (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)