Polyhouse farming · Andhra Pradesh

Polyhouse Farming in Kavali

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Kavali, 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 Kavali: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Kavali? Kavali is a town in Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, home to about 90,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 210 km from Chennai. This guide works from Kavali'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 Kavali

May is the hottest month in Kavali, with average daily highs of about 37°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 21°C.[2] The area gets about 924 mm of rain a year, most of it in August to November, peaking in October at about 224 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in September to January, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Kavali sits about 20 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Kavali falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Kavali climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan27.321.07511
Feb29.821.6715
Mar33.023.8678
Apr35.226.26516
May36.728.56042
Jun34.527.86360
Jul33.426.86698
Aug32.526.271116
Sep31.525.975119
Oct30.525.476224
Nov28.323.779172
Dec27.121.97753
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Kavali. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Kavali

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Kavali, 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 October's 224 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 (September to January), 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.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Kavali?

For polyhouse farming in Kavali, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in March to July, with moderate humidity of about 64%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 37°C May 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 October (about 224 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.6 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 December to March and July, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Kavali

Based on Kavali's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (all year), chilli pepper (10 months) and brinjal (10 months). Cucumber fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Lilium and carnation 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 Kavali.

Months each crop suits in Kavali

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumOct–FebAug–Apr
TomatoOct–FebOct–Mar
CucumberJul–MarAll year
Chilli pepperAug–MarJul–Apr
BrinjalAug–MarJul–Apr
LettuceDec–JanNov–Mar
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseJanJan
GerberaDec–JanDec–Feb
CarnationDifficultDifficult
ChrysanthemumJanJan
AnthuriumNov–FebJul–Apr
OrchidsNov–FebJul–Apr
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 Kavali

Selling your harvest in and around Kavali

90,000People in Kavali (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,341Spending per person per month, urban Andhra Pradesh, 2023–24[5]
210 kmto Chennai, the nearest metro (straight line)

The Census counted 86,000 people in Kavali in 2001 and 90,000 in 2011, a rise of 5%. In 1991 it was 66,000.[1] 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.[5] Local demand in Kavali may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Nellore, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Chennai is within a day's delivery, about 210 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Kavali with Kryzen

We have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Kavali is about 730 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.

Towns near Kavali

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

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 Kavali: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Kavali?

Yes, with the right structure. For Kavali 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 October, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Kavali?

With May highs of about 37°C and 60% 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 Kavali?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Kavali?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Kavali, cucumber and chilli pepper 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 Kavali?

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 730 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 Kavali 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 · Kavali (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)