Planning polyhouse farming in Pilani? Pilani is a small town in Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, home to about 30,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 160 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 Pilani
May is the hottest month in Pilani, with average daily highs of about 42°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 7°C.[3] Rain is scarce: about 471 mm a year. Water for the farm will come from a borewell, well, tanker or municipal supply, so test its salts (EC) and hardness before choosing the system. Pilani sits about 279 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Pilani falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]
Pilani climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
21.2
6.8
38
8
Feb
25.4
9.7
35
14
Mar
31.9
15.6
30
16
Apr
38.2
22.0
24
16
May
42.0
27.3
23
31
Jun
41.7
30.0
35
65
Jul
38.2
28.8
53
124
Aug
36.2
26.9
61
114
Sep
36.0
24.3
54
68
Oct
34.2
19.8
36
7
Nov
28.4
14.0
33
4
Dec
23.0
8.8
35
4
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Pilani. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Pilani
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Pilani cucumber can be grown for about 8 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
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
With only about 471 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.
4
Less pesticides
Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, so you spray less often.
5
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 Pilani?
For polyhouse farming in Pilani, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Pilani comes with dry air. In April to July, average highs reach 42°C while average humidity is only about 34%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 42°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 November and costs less to run.
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.
Crops for Pilani
Based on Pilani's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (8 months), chilli pepper (7 months) and brinjal (7 months). Cucumber fits March to May and July to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Pilani.
Months each crop suits in Pilani
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Tomato
Feb and Nov
Feb–Apr and Sep–Nov
Cucumber
Mar and Nov
Mar–May and Jul–Nov
Chilli pepper
Mar and Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Brinjal
Mar and Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Lettuce
Dec–Feb
Oct–Apr
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Rose
Feb
Feb–Mar and Oct–Nov
Gerbera
Feb
Feb–Apr and Oct–Nov
Carnation
Dec
Feb–Mar and Nov–Dec
Chrysanthemum
Feb
Feb–Mar and Oct–Nov
Anthurium
Difficult
Mar–May and Aug–Oct
Orchids
Difficult
Mar–May and Aug–Oct
Lilium
Dec
Feb–Mar and Nov–Dec
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.
₹6,640Spending per person per month, urban Rajasthan, 2023–24[6]
160 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] Local demand in Pilani 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 160 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Pilani with Kryzen
We have built 6 projects in Rajasthan so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Pilani is about 940 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Pilani
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Pilani:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Pilani: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Pilani?
Yes, with the right structure. For Pilani 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 Pilani?
With May highs of about 42°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 Pilani?
Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and brinjal have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Pilani?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Pilani, 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 Pilani?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 940 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 Pilani 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.
