Planning polyhouse farming in Itarsi? Itarsi is a mid-sized city in Narmadapuram district, Madhya Pradesh, home to about 1 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 530 km from Ahmedabad. This guide works from Itarsi's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Itarsi
May is the hottest month in Itarsi, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 11°C.[3] The area gets about 1,299 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 430 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Itarsi sits about 305 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Itarsi falls in the tropical savanna (dry summer) zone (As).[4]
Itarsi climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
27.9
10.6
39
13
Feb
31.8
13.7
32
10
Mar
36.4
18.2
26
14
Apr
41.2
23.4
20
7
May
43.4
27.8
24
15
Jun
37.2
26.5
56
173
Jul
30.2
23.6
84
430
Aug
28.6
22.9
89
398
Sep
29.5
22.1
85
190
Oct
30.3
18.7
69
33
Nov
30.1
14.7
55
12
Dec
28.7
11.8
41
4
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Itarsi. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Itarsi
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for 10 months a year in Itarsi, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.
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
Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps July's 430 mm of rain off the crop and the soil.
4
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.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Madhya Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Itarsi?
For polyhouse farming in Itarsi, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Itarsi comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 22%. 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 July to December and costs less to run.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 430 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.3 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 Itarsi
Based on Itarsi's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (10 months), tomato (10 months) and cucumber (10 months). Capsicum fits February to April and June to December with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Itarsi.
Months each crop suits in Itarsi
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jul–Dec
Feb–Apr and Jun–Dec
Tomato
Jul–Jan
Jul–Apr
Cucumber
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb and Jul–Dec
Feb–Apr and Jun–Dec
Brinjal
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Apr and Jun–Nov
Lettuce
Jan
Jul–Apr
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Rose
Jan
Oct–Mar
Gerbera
Jan
Aug–Apr
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Jan
Oct–Mar
Anthurium
Aug–Sep
Mar–Apr and Jun–Oct
Orchids
Aug–Sep
Mar–Apr and Jun–Oct
Lilium
Difficult
Nov–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.
₹5,589Spending per person per month, urban Madhya Pradesh, 2023–24[6]
530 kmto Ahmedabad, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Madhya Pradesh spent an average of ₹5,589 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Itarsi may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.
Polyhouse farming in Itarsi with Kryzen
We have built 8 projects in Madhya Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Itarsi is about 390 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Itarsi
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Itarsi:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Itarsi: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Itarsi?
Yes, with the right structure. For Itarsi we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to June, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Itarsi?
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 Itarsi?
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 Itarsi?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Itarsi, 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 Itarsi?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 390 km away, and we have built 8 projects in Madhya Pradesh.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Madhya Pradesh?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Madhya 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 Itarsi 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.
