Planning polyhouse farming in Lilong? Lilong is a town in Thoubal district, Manipur[1], about 620 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Lilong 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 Lilong
April is the hottest month in Lilong, with average daily highs of about 30°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 7°C.[2] The area gets about 1,267 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to October, peaking in July at about 218 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Lilong falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]
Lilong climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
22.0
7.4
62
9
Feb
24.8
9.6
56
20
Mar
28.1
13.4
54
49
Apr
29.6
16.9
65
122
May
29.6
19.1
75
168
Jun
29.1
20.6
82
206
Jul
28.5
20.8
85
218
Aug
28.4
20.9
85
175
Sep
27.6
20.1
85
150
Oct
25.9
17.9
84
112
Nov
24.1
13.3
77
22
Dec
22.3
9.3
69
16
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Lilong. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Lilong
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, tomato can be grown for 10 months a year in Lilong, 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 218 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 (May to November), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Manipur can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]
Which polyhouse suits Lilong?
For polyhouse farming in Lilong, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. With average highs between 22°C and 30°C through the year, Lilong suits a naturally ventilated polyhouse for most crops. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely needed; spend the budget on good ventilation, insect net and a shade screen. Plan for heavy rain in July (about 218 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Based on Lilong's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are tomato (10 months), capsicum (9 months) and chilli pepper (9 months). Tomato fits February to November in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and broccoli 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 Lilong.
Months each crop suits in Lilong
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
Mar–Nov
Tomato
Feb–Nov
Cucumber
Apr–Oct
Chilli pepper
Mar–Nov
Brinjal
Apr–Oct
Lettuce
Sep–Feb
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Strawberry
Nov–Feb
Rose
Feb and Sep–Nov
Gerbera
Feb and Sep–Nov
Carnation
Feb and Nov–Dec
Chrysanthemum
Feb and Sep–Nov
Anthurium
Apr–Oct
Orchids
Apr–Oct
Lilium
Dec
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.
₹6,005Spending per person per month, urban Manipur, 2023–24[5]
620 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Manipur spent an average of ₹6,005 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Local demand in Lilong may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Imphal, about 10 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Lilong with Kryzen
We have built one project in Manipur so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Lilong is about 1,990 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Lilong
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Lilong:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Lilong: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Lilong?
Yes, with the right structure. For Lilong we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse.
Which polyhouse is best for Lilong?
With April highs of about 30°C and 65% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Lilong?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, tomato and rose have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Lilong?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Lilong, tomato and capsicum 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 Lilong?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,990 km away, and we have built one project in Manipur.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Manipur?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Manipur 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 Lilong 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.
