Planning polyhouse farming in Bikaner? Bikaner is a large city in Bikaner district, Rajasthan, home to about 6.4 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 390 km from Delhi. 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 Bikaner
May is the hottest month in Bikaner, with average daily highs of about 42°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 8°C.[3] Rain is scarce: about 285 mm a year. Water for the farm will come from a borewell, well, tanker or municipal supply, so test its salts (EC) and hardness before choosing the system. The air is dry for most of the year (average humidity peaks at 52%), which helps evaporative cooling but raises water use per plant. Bikaner sits about 242 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Bikaner falls in the hot desert zone (BWh).[4]
Bikaner climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
21.8
7.6
34
3
Feb
25.9
10.9
30
10
Mar
32.3
17.0
26
10
Apr
38.4
23.2
21
10
May
42.1
27.9
23
21
Jun
42.0
30.7
34
40
Jul
39.6
30.1
46
76
Aug
37.9
28.0
52
66
Sep
37.6
25.5
45
36
Oct
35.3
20.7
30
5
Nov
29.1
14.6
30
5
Dec
23.6
9.3
32
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Bikaner. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Bikaner
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Bikaner cucumber can be grown for about 7 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
2
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.
3
Less water
With only about 285 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.
4
Less pesticides
Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Rajasthan can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Bikaner?
For polyhouse farming in Bikaner, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Bikaner comes with dry air. In April to July, average highs reach 42°C while average humidity is only about 31%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 42°C May afternoon down to roughly 30°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.
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 February to March and November, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Bikaner
Based on Bikaner's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (7 months), lettuce (7 months) and tomato (6 months). Cucumber fits March to May and August to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Bikaner.
Months each crop suits in Bikaner
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Tomato
Feb and Nov
Feb–Apr and Sep–Nov
Cucumber
Mar and Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Chilli pepper
Mar and Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Brinjal
Mar and Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Lettuce
Dec–Feb
Oct–Apr
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Rose
Feb
Feb–Mar and Oct–Nov
Gerbera
Feb
Feb–Apr and Oct–Nov
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Chrysanthemum
Feb
Feb–Mar and Oct–Nov
Anthurium
Difficult
Mar–Apr and Sep–Oct
Orchids
Difficult
Mar–Apr and Sep–Oct
Lilium
Dec–Jan
Nov–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.
₹6,640Spending per person per month, urban Rajasthan, 2023–24[6]
390 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Rajasthan spent an average of ₹6,640 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Bikaner 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.
Polyhouse farming in Bikaner with Kryzen
We have built 6 projects in Rajasthan so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Bikaner is about 890 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Bikaner
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Bikaner:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Bikaner: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Bikaner?
Yes, with the right structure. For Bikaner 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 Bikaner?
With May highs of about 42°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 Bikaner?
Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, lettuce and tomato have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Bikaner?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Bikaner, cucumber and lettuce 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 Bikaner?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 890 km away, and we have built 6 projects in Rajasthan.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Rajasthan?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Rajasthan 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 Bikaner 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.
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.
