Polyhouse farming · Uttar Pradesh

Polyhouse Farming in Kanpur

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Kanpur, with Fan & Pad cooling for dry summer heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 6 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Kanpur? Kanpur is a city of about 27.7 lakh people (Census 2011) in Kanpur Nagar District, Uttar Pradesh[1], about 390 km from Delhi. We have used the monthly climate for Kanpur 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 Kanpur

May is the hottest month in Kanpur, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 8°C.[2] The area gets about 845 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 258 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Kanpur sits about 126 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Kanpur falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[3]

Kanpur climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan22.77.54617
Feb27.511.04117
Mar34.316.63011
Apr40.623.6219
May43.428.52323
Jun41.530.440106
Jul34.827.472258
Aug32.925.980216
Sep32.424.178148
Oct31.619.46330
Nov27.713.7534
Dec23.59.0496
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Kanpur. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Kanpur

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Kanpur cucumber can be grown for about 8 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.

  • 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 July's 258 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 (August to September), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Uttar Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Kanpur?

For polyhouse farming in Kanpur, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Kanpur comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 28%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 43°C May afternoon down to roughly 31°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.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 258 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.7 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 February and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Kanpur

Based on Kanpur'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 Kanpur.

Months each crop suits in Kanpur

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumNovMar–Apr and Aug–Nov
TomatoFeb and NovFeb–Apr and Sep–Nov
CucumberAug–NovMar–May and Jul–Nov
Chilli pepperAug–NovMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
BrinjalAug–NovMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
LettuceNov–FebOct–Apr
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Mar
StrawberryDec–JanNov–Feb
RoseFeb and NovFeb–Mar and Oct–Nov
GerberaFeb and NovFeb–Mar and Oct–Nov
CarnationDec–JanNov–Mar
ChrysanthemumFeb and NovFeb–Mar and Oct–Nov
AnthuriumDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
OrchidsDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
LiliumDec–JanNov–Mar
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 Kanpur

Selling your harvest in and around Kanpur

27.7 lakhPeople in Kanpur (Census 2011)[1]
₹5,474Spending per person per month, urban Uttar Pradesh, 2023–24[5]
390 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Uttar Pradesh spent an average of ₹5,474 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] A city of this size has hotels, restaurants, modern retail and quick-commerce stores within its own limits, so most harvests can be sold locally. Line up two or three buyers before planting and agree on grade and delivery days.

Polyhouse farming in Kanpur with Kryzen

We have built 6 projects in Uttar Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Kanpur is about 890 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Kanpur

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

Map of Uttar Pradesh

Check other locations in Uttar Pradesh

We have farm planning pages for 129 towns in Uttar Pradesh, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Uttar Pradesh locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Kanpur: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Kanpur?

Yes, with the right structure. For Kanpur 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 Kanpur?

With May highs of about 43°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 Kanpur?

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 Kanpur?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 890 km away, and we have built 6 projects in Uttar Pradesh.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Uttar Pradesh?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Uttar Pradesh 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 Kanpur 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 · Kanpur (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. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (opens in a new tab)