Polyhouse farming · Maharashtra

Polyhouse Farming in Bhiwandi

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Bhiwandi, with Fan & Pad for greens, natural ventilation for vine crops.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 6 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Bhiwandi? Bhiwandi is a large city in Thane district, Maharashtra, home to about 7.1 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 30 km from Mumbai. We have used the monthly climate for Bhiwandi 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 Bhiwandi

April is the hottest month in Bhiwandi, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 15°C.[2] The area gets about 2,490 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 835 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Bhiwandi sits about 24 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Bhiwandi falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[3]

Bhiwandi climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan31.715.3430
Feb34.217.2393
Mar37.320.1414
Apr39.122.6502
May37.625.05917
Jun31.625.679518
Jul28.324.690835
Aug27.923.991615
Sep28.823.289386
Oct30.921.07691
Nov31.518.36315
Dec31.516.3504
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Bhiwandi. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Bhiwandi

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Bhiwandi, 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 July's 835 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 (June to October), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

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

Which polyhouse suits Bhiwandi?

For polyhouse farming in Bhiwandi, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in February to May, with moderate humidity of about 47%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 39°C April afternoon down to roughly 32°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. Capsicum, cucumber and tomato do well in a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen. If you want one structure, decide by crop: greens all year point to Fan & Pad; vine crops point to a naturally ventilated house.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 835 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April 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 January, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Bhiwandi

Based on Bhiwandi's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), cucumber (all year) and chilli pepper (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Strawberry and lilium 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 Bhiwandi.

Months each crop suits in Bhiwandi

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumJul–OctAll year
TomatoJul–OctJul–May
CucumberJun–JanAll year
Chilli pepperJun–JanAll year
BrinjalJun–JanAll year
LettuceAugAug–Mar
BroccoliDifficultDec–Jan
StrawberryDifficultJan
RoseDifficultOct–Mar
GerberaDifficultSep–Mar
CarnationDifficultDec–Feb
ChrysanthemumDifficultOct–Mar
AnthuriumJul–SepFeb–Mar and Jun–Dec
OrchidsJul–SepFeb–Mar and Jun–Dec
LiliumDifficultDec–Jan
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 Bhiwandi

Selling your harvest in and around Bhiwandi

7.1 lakhPeople in Bhiwandi (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[5]
30 kmto Mumbai, the nearest metro (straight line)

The Census counted 6 lakh people in Bhiwandi in 2001 and 7.1 lakh in 2011, a rise of 19%.[1] 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.[5] Bhiwandi is large enough for steady local sales to restaurants, hotels and fruit-and-vegetable retailers. Start with a farm size that matches the orders you can confirm. Thane, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Mumbai is within a day's delivery, about 30 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Bhiwandi with Kryzen

We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Bhiwandi is about 110 km in a straight line from our Pune (PCMC) warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Bhiwandi

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

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 Bhiwandi: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Bhiwandi?

Yes, with the right structure. For Bhiwandi we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to July, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Bhiwandi?

With April highs of about 39°C and 50% average humidity in that month, we would start with Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Bhiwandi?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Bhiwandi?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Bhiwandi, capsicum and cucumber 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 Bhiwandi?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Pune (PCMC) warehouse, about 110 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 Bhiwandi 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 · Bhiwandi (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)