Planning polyhouse farming in Sirkali? Sirkali is a small town in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, home to about 35,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 210 km from Chennai. This guide works from Sirkali's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Sirkali
May is the hottest month in Sirkali, with average daily highs of about 33°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 24°C.[3] The area gets about 1,053 mm of rain a year. The wettest months are October to December, peaking in November at about 252 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in September to January, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Sirkali sits about 4 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Sirkali falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]
Sirkali climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
27.1
23.9
77
20
Feb
28.4
24.3
74
10
Mar
30.4
25.8
73
23
Apr
31.9
27.7
74
41
May
32.5
28.2
74
84
Jun
32.5
27.6
71
49
Jul
32.2
27.3
70
61
Aug
31.8
26.9
72
82
Sep
31.1
26.7
76
96
Oct
29.8
26.6
79
198
Nov
28.2
25.8
82
252
Dec
27.3
24.7
81
137
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Sirkali. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Sirkali
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Sirkali, 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 November's 252 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 Sirkali?
For polyhouse farming in Sirkali, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. With average highs between 27°C and 33°C through the year, Sirkali suits a naturally ventilated polyhouse for most crops. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely needed; spend the budget on good ventilation, insect net and a shade screen. Plan for heavy rain in November (about 252 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.4 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 January to September, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Sirkali
Based on Sirkali's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (all year), chilli pepper (9 months) and brinjal (9 months). Cucumber fits all year in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and chrysanthemum 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 Sirkali.
Months each crop suits in Sirkali
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
Nov–Mar
Tomato
Dec–Feb
Cucumber
All year
Chilli pepper
Jul–Mar
Brinjal
Jul–Mar
Lettuce
Jan
Broccoli
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Rose
Difficult
Gerbera
Difficult
Carnation
Difficult
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Anthurium
Oct–Feb
Orchids
Oct–Feb
Lilium
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]
210 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 Sirkali may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Neyveli (TS), about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Chennai is within a day's delivery, about 210 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Sirkali with Kryzen
We have built 9 projects in Tamil Nadu so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Sirkali is about 980 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Sirkali
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Sirkali:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Sirkali: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Sirkali?
Yes, with the right structure. For Sirkali we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in March to December, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Sirkali?
With May highs of about 33°C and 74% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Sirkali?
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 Sirkali?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Sirkali, 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 Sirkali?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 980 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 Sirkali 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.
