Polyhouse farming · Maharashtra

Polyhouse Farming in Pathardi

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

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Pathardi? Pathardi is a small town in Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra, home to about 27,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 160 km from Pune. 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 Pathardi

May is the hottest month in Pathardi, with average daily highs of about 40°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 13°C.[3] The area gets about 661 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in September at about 150 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Pathardi sits about 533 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Pathardi falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]

Pathardi climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan30.012.7392
Feb33.515.6312
Mar36.719.2289
Apr39.922.8276
May40.123.93917
Jun33.122.867114
Jul29.921.677133
Aug29.320.980134
Sep29.620.679150
Oct29.918.47171
Nov29.315.16220
Dec29.012.8503
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Pathardi. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Pathardi

  • ವರ್ಷವಿಡೀ ಬೆಳೆಗಳು

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Pathardi, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.

  • ಉತ್ತಮ ಇಳುವರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಲೆ

    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.

  • ಕಡಿಮೆ ನೀರು

    With only about 661 mm of rain a year here, drip irrigation under cover saves water: less is lost to evaporation and run-off than in the open field.

  • Less pesticides

    Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, and controlled ventilation helps with leaf disease in the humid months (July to September), so you spray less often.

  • ಸಬ್ಸಿಡಿಗೆ ಅರ್ಹ

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Maharashtra can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Pathardi?

For polyhouse farming in Pathardi, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Pathardi comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 40°C while average humidity is only about 33%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 40°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 July to January and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.2 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 October to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Pathardi

Based on Pathardi's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and chilli pepper (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Pathardi.

Months each crop suits in Pathardi

ಬೆಳೆನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ವಾತಾಯನದ ಪಾಲಿಹೌಸ್With Fan & Pad cooling
ಕ್ಯಾಪ್ಸಿಕಂJul–JanAll year
ಟೊಮೆಟೊJul–JanAll year
ಸೌತೆಕಾಯಿFeb and Jun–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperJul–JanAll year
ಬದನೆJul–NovFeb–Nov
ಲೆಟ್ಯೂಸ್DifficultJun–Apr
ಬ್ರೊಕೊಲಿDifficultNov–Feb
ಸ್ಟ್ರಾಬೆರಿDifficultNov–Jan
ಗುಲಾಬಿDifficultAug–Mar
ಜರ್ಬೆರಾDifficultJun–Apr
ಕಾರ್ನೇಷನ್DifficultNov–Feb
ಸೇವಂತಿಗೆDifficultAug–Mar
ಆಂಥೂರಿಯಂJul–OctFeb–Oct
ಆರ್ಕಿಡ್‌ಗಳುJul–OctFeb–Oct
ಲಿಲಿಯಂDifficultNov–Feb
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 Pathardi

Selling your harvest in and around Pathardi

27,000People in Pathardi (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[6]
160 kmto Pune, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Maharashtra spent an average of ₹7,415 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Pathardi may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Ahmednagar, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Pune is within a day's delivery, about 160 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Pathardi with Kryzen

We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)). Pathardi is about 80 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Pathardi

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

Map of Maharashtra

Check other locations in Maharashtra

We have farm planning pages for 130 towns in Maharashtra, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Maharashtra locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Pathardi: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Pathardi?

Yes, with the right structure. For Pathardi we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Pathardi?

With May highs of about 40°C and 39% 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 Pathardi?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Pathardi?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 80 km away, and we have built 95 projects in Maharashtra.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Maharashtra?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Maharashtra 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 Pathardi 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.

ಸುಧೀರ್ ದೇವ್ಕರ್

ಸುಧೀರ್ ದೇವ್ಕರ್

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 (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  2. ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ · Pathardi (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  3. NASA Langley Research Center · POWER Climatology API: long-term monthly averages (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  4. Rubel & Kottek, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna · World map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  5. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  6. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)