Polyhouse farming · Maharashtra

Polyhouse Farming in Nandurbar

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Nandurbar? Nandurbar is a mid-sized city in Nandurbar district, Maharashtra, home to about 1.1 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 250 km from Ahmedabad. This guide works from Nandurbar'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 Nandurbar

May is the hottest month in Nandurbar, with average daily highs of about 41°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 12°C.[3] The area gets about 909 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 276 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Nandurbar sits about 210 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Nandurbar falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]

Nandurbar climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan29.712.1342
Feb33.115.0293
Mar37.118.9276
Apr40.822.7314
May41.324.9428
Jun35.124.866155
Jul29.923.484276
Aug28.722.687243
Sep29.622.085163
Oct31.119.46933
Nov31.015.75513
Dec29.913.0423
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Nandurbar. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Nandurbar

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Nandurbar, 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 276 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 September), 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.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Nandurbar?

For polyhouse farming in Nandurbar, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Nandurbar comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 41°C while average humidity is only about 37%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 41°C May afternoon down to roughly 33°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 November to January and July to September and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 276 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.4 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 Nandurbar

Based on Nandurbar's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and chilli pepper (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Nandurbar.

Months each crop suits in Nandurbar

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumNov–Jan and Jul–SepAll year
TomatoNov–Jan and Jul–SepAll year
CucumberFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperJul–JanAll year
BrinjalJul–NovFeb–Nov
LettuceDifficultJul–Apr
BroccoliDifficultDec–Feb
StrawberryDifficultDec–Feb
RoseDifficultOct–Mar
GerberaDifficultJul–Apr
CarnationDifficultNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumDifficultOct–Mar
AnthuriumJul–SepMar–Apr and Jun–Nov
OrchidsJul–SepMar–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 Nandurbar

Selling your harvest in and around Nandurbar

1.1 lakhPeople in Nandurbar (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[6]
250 kmto Ahmedabad, 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.[6] Local demand in Nandurbar may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Dhule, about 80 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Ahmedabad is within a day's delivery, about 250 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Nandurbar with Kryzen

We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Nandurbar is about 160 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Nandurbar

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

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 Nandurbar: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Nandurbar?

Yes, with the right structure. For Nandurbar 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 Nandurbar?

With May highs of about 41°C and 42% 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 Nandurbar?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Nandurbar?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 160 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 Nandurbar 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 · Nandurbar (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)