Polyhouse farming · Maharashtra

Polyhouse Farming in Mukhed

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Mukhed, with Fan & Pad cooling for dry summer heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Mukhed? Mukhed is a small town in Maharashtra, home to about 24,000 people (GeoNames)[1], about 220 km from Hyderabad. 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 Mukhed

May is the hottest month in Mukhed, with average daily highs of about 42°C. December has the coolest nights, averaging 13°C.[2] The area gets about 860 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 220 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Mukhed falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Mukhed climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan30.613.8408
Feb34.417.3316
Mar38.021.32718
Apr41.425.52614
May42.428.12921
Jun35.325.260134
Jul31.122.976220
Aug29.722.282210
Sep29.621.883154
Oct29.819.37562
Nov29.615.86511
Dec29.513.4502
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Mukhed. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Mukhed

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for 11 months a year in Mukhed, 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 July's 220 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 (July to October), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Maharashtra can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Mukhed?

For polyhouse farming in Mukhed, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Mukhed comes with dry air. In March to May, average highs reach 42°C while average humidity is only about 27%. 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 August to January and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 220 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.0 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 January, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Mukhed

Based on Mukhed's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (11 months), tomato (11 months) and cucumber (11 months). Capsicum fits June to April with Fan & Pad cooling. Strawberry is hard to time here, so we would leave it out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Mukhed.

Months each crop suits in Mukhed

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumAug–JanJun–Apr
TomatoAug–JanJun–Apr
CucumberJan and Jul–NovJan–Nov
Chilli pepperJul–JanJun–Apr
BrinjalJan and Jul–NovJan–Apr and Jun–Nov
LettuceDifficultJul–Mar
BroccoliDifficultDec–Feb
StrawberryDifficultDec–Jan
RoseDifficultOct–Mar
GerberaDifficultJul–Mar
CarnationDifficultNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumDifficultOct–Mar
AnthuriumAug–NovFeb–Apr and Jun–Nov
OrchidsAug–NovFeb–Apr and Jun–Nov
LiliumDifficultDec–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.

Suggested crops for Mukhed

Selling your harvest in and around Mukhed

24,000People in Mukhed (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[5]
220 kmto Hyderabad, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Maharashtra spent an average of ₹7,415 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Local demand in Mukhed may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Nanded, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Hyderabad is within a day's delivery, about 220 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Mukhed with Kryzen

We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Mukhed is about 240 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Mukhed

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

Map of Maharashtra

Check other locations in Maharashtra

We have farm planning pages for 130 towns in Maharashtra, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Maharashtra locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Mukhed: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Mukhed?

Yes, with the right structure. For Mukhed we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to June, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Mukhed?

With May highs of about 42°C and 29% 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 Mukhed?

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 Mukhed?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 240 km away, and we have built 95 projects in Maharashtra.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Maharashtra?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Maharashtra 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 Mukhed 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. 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)