Polyhouse farming · Tamil Nadu

Polyhouse Farming in Tharangambadi

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Tharangambadi, with a naturally ventilated polyhouse for a mild climate.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Tharangambadi? Tharangambadi is a small town in Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu, home to about 23,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 230 km from Chennai. We have used the monthly climate for Tharangambadi 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 Tharangambadi

May is the hottest month in Tharangambadi, 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. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Tharangambadi falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]

Tharangambadi climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan27.123.97720
Feb28.424.37410
Mar30.425.87323
Apr31.927.77441
May32.528.27484
Jun32.527.67149
Jul32.227.37061
Aug31.826.97282
Sep31.126.77696
Oct29.826.679198
Nov28.225.882252
Dec27.324.781137
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Tharangambadi. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Tharangambadi

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Tharangambadi, 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

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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 Tharangambadi?

For polyhouse farming in Tharangambadi, 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, Tharangambadi 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.

Protected structures to compare

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 Tharangambadi

Based on Tharangambadi'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 Tharangambadi.

Months each crop suits in Tharangambadi

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouse
CapsicumNov–Mar
TomatoDec–Feb
CucumberAll year
Chilli pepperJul–Mar
BrinjalJul–Mar
LettuceJan
BroccoliDifficult
StrawberryDifficult
RoseDifficult
GerberaDifficult
CarnationDifficult
ChrysanthemumDifficult
AnthuriumOct–Feb
OrchidsOct–Feb
LiliumDifficult
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 Tharangambadi

Selling your harvest in and around Tharangambadi

23,000People in Tharangambadi (GeoNames)[1]
₹8,325Spending per person per month, urban Tamil Nadu, 2023–24[6]
230 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 Tharangambadi may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Kumbakonam, 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 230 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Tharangambadi with Kryzen

We have built 9 projects in Tamil Nadu so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Tharangambadi is about 1,000 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.

Towns near Tharangambadi

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

Map of Tamil Nadu

Check other locations in Tamil Nadu

We have farm planning pages for 121 towns in Tamil Nadu, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Tamil Nadu locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Tharangambadi: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Tharangambadi?

Yes, with the right structure. For Tharangambadi 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 Tharangambadi?

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 Tharangambadi?

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 Tharangambadi?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 1,000 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 Tharangambadi 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 · Tharangambadi (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)