Planning polyhouse farming in Arakkonam? Arakkonam is a town in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, home to about 79,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 70 km from Chennai. 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 Arakkonam
April is the hottest month in Arakkonam, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 17°C.[3] The area gets about 1,058 mm of rain a year, most of it in July to November, peaking in October at about 202 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in September to January, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Arakkonam falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]
Arakkonam climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
28.5
16.5
77
12
Feb
32.2
17.4
67
6
Mar
36.4
20.4
59
16
Apr
38.2
23.5
58
33
May
37.4
25.5
58
67
Jun
35.0
24.5
61
71
Jul
34.0
23.6
65
106
Aug
33.1
23.1
70
123
Sep
31.8
22.7
76
144
Oct
30.0
21.9
81
202
Nov
27.9
19.8
85
198
Dec
27.1
17.7
83
80
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Arakkonam. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Arakkonam
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Arakkonam, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.
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
Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps October's 202 mm of rain off the crop and the soil.
4
Less pesticides
Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, and controlled ventilation helps with leaf disease in the humid months (September to January), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Tamil Nadu can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Arakkonam?
For polyhouse farming in Arakkonam, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in March to August, with moderate humidity of about 62%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C April afternoon down to roughly 33°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. 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.
Plan for heavy rain in October (about 202 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.6 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 December to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Arakkonam
Based on Arakkonam's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and cucumber (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Lilium and strawberry are hard to time here, so we would leave them out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Arakkonam.
Months each crop suits in Arakkonam
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Oct–Jan
All year
Tomato
Oct–Jan
All year
Cucumber
Jul–Feb
All year
Chilli pepper
Sep–Feb
All year
Brinjal
Sep–Feb
All year
Lettuce
Nov–Dec
Sep–Feb
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Nov–Dec
Nov–Feb
Gerbera
Nov–Dec
Sep–Feb
Carnation
Difficult
Jan
Chrysanthemum
Nov–Dec
Nov–Feb
Anthurium
Oct–Jan
Jun–Mar
Orchids
Oct–Jan
Jun–Mar
Lilium
Difficult
Difficult
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.
₹8,325Spending per person per month, urban Tamil Nadu, 2023–24[6]
70 kmto Chennai, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Tamil Nadu spent an average of ₹8,325 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Arakkonam may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Kancheepuram, about 30 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Chennai is within a day's delivery, about 70 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Arakkonam with Kryzen
We have built 9 projects in Tamil Nadu so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Arakkonam is about 820 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Arakkonam
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Arakkonam:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Arakkonam: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Arakkonam?
Yes, with the right structure. For Arakkonam we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in March to August, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Arakkonam?
With April highs of about 38°C and 58% 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 Arakkonam?
Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, tomato and cucumber have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Arakkonam?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Arakkonam, capsicum and tomato 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 Arakkonam?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 820 km away, and we have built 9 projects in Tamil Nadu.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Tamil Nadu?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Tamil Nadu 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 Arakkonam 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.
