Polyhouse farming · Andhra Pradesh

Polyhouse Farming in Dharmavaram

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

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Dharmavaram? Dharmavaram is a mid-sized city in Anantapuramu district, Andhra Pradesh, home to about 1.2 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 160 km from Bengaluru. We have used the monthly climate for Dharmavaram 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 Dharmavaram

April is the hottest month in Dharmavaram, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 16°C.[3] The area gets about 619 mm of rain a year. The wettest months are September to October, peaking in September at about 132 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in September to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Dharmavaram falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]

Dharmavaram climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan31.015.6573
Feb34.517.8433
Mar37.721.73513
Apr39.024.83929
May37.324.95275
Jun32.522.66765
Jul31.622.06973
Aug31.421.67182
Sep30.821.375132
Oct30.120.376102
Nov29.017.97535
Dec29.015.7697
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Dharmavaram. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Dharmavaram

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Dharmavaram, 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

    With only about 619 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 (September to November), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

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

Which polyhouse suits Dharmavaram?

For polyhouse farming in Dharmavaram, 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 42%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 39°C April 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. 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

Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.9 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 November to January and June to August, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Dharmavaram

Based on Dharmavaram's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and cucumber (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Lilium and strawberry 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 Dharmavaram.

Months each crop suits in Dharmavaram

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumSep–JanAll year
TomatoSep–JanAll year
CucumberJun–JanAll year
Chilli pepperJun–JanAll year
BrinjalJun–JanAll year
LettuceDifficultJun–Mar
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseDifficultSep–Feb
GerberaDifficultJun–Mar
CarnationDifficultDec–Jan
ChrysanthemumDifficultSep–Feb
AnthuriumNov–DecAll year
OrchidsNov–DecAll year
LiliumDifficultDifficult
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 Dharmavaram

Selling your harvest in and around Dharmavaram

1.2 lakhPeople in Dharmavaram (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,341Spending per person per month, urban Andhra Pradesh, 2023–24[6]
160 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Andhra Pradesh spent an average of ₹7,341 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Dharmavaram may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Anantapur, about 30 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Bengaluru is within a day's delivery, about 160 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Dharmavaram with Kryzen

We have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Dharmavaram is about 570 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.

Towns near Dharmavaram

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

Map of Andhra Pradesh

Check other locations in Andhra Pradesh

We have farm planning pages for 84 towns in Andhra Pradesh, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Andhra Pradesh locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Dharmavaram: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Dharmavaram?

Yes, with the right structure. For Dharmavaram 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 May, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Dharmavaram?

With April highs of about 39°C and 39% 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 Dharmavaram?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Dharmavaram?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 570 km away, and we have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Andhra 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 Dharmavaram 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 · Dharmavaram Assembly constituency (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)