Polyhouse farming · Uttar Pradesh

Polyhouse Farming in Pihani

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Pihani, 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 Pihani: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Pihani? Pihani is a small town in Hardoi district, Uttar Pradesh, home to about 30,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 310 km from Delhi. We have used the monthly climate for Pihani 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 Pihani

May is the hottest month in Pihani, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 7°C.[3] The area gets about 906 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 290 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Pihani sits about 141 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Pihani falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[4]

Pihani climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan21.96.84917
Feb26.510.34320
Mar33.315.83313
Apr39.922.92312
May42.927.92424
Jun41.529.939110
Jul34.827.371290
Aug32.625.881228
Sep32.223.878157
Oct31.118.86323
Nov26.913.1544
Dec22.88.3508
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Pihani. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Pihani

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Pihani cucumber can be grown for about 7 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 290 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.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Pihani?

For polyhouse farming in Pihani, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Pihani comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 29%. 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 290 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.8 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 to March and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Pihani

Based on Pihani's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (7 months), chilli pepper (7 months) and lettuce (7 months). Cucumber fits March to May and July to October with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Pihani.

Months each crop suits in Pihani

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumNovMar–Apr and Aug–Nov
TomatoFeb and NovFeb–Apr and Sep–Nov
CucumberMar and Aug–OctMar–May and Jul–Oct
Chilli pepperAug–NovMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
BrinjalAug–OctMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
LettuceNov–FebOct–Apr
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Mar
StrawberryDec–JanNov–Feb
RoseFeb and NovFeb–Mar and Oct–Nov
GerberaFeb and NovFeb–Apr and Oct–Nov
CarnationDecFeb–Mar and Nov–Dec
ChrysanthemumFeb and NovFeb–Mar and Oct–Nov
AnthuriumDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
OrchidsDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
LiliumDecFeb–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.

Suggested crops for Pihani

Selling your harvest in and around Pihani

30,000People in Pihani (GeoNames)[1]
₹5,474Spending per person per month, urban Uttar Pradesh, 2023–24[6]
310 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.[6] Local demand in Pihani may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Shahjahanpur, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Pihani with Kryzen

We have built 6 projects in Uttar Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Pihani is about 990 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Pihani

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

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 Pihani: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Pihani?

Yes, with the right structure. For Pihani 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 Pihani?

With May highs of about 43°C and 24% 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 Pihani?

Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and lettuce have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Pihani?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 990 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 Pihani 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 · Pihani (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)