Planning polyhouse farming in Narkhed? Narkhed is a small town in Nagpur district, Maharashtra, home to about 21,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 450 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 Narkhed
May is the hottest month in Narkhed, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 12°C.[3] The area gets about 1,092 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 318 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Narkhed sits about 398 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Narkhed falls in the tropical savanna (dry summer) zone (As).[4]
Narkhed climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
28.1
11.5
40
14
Feb
32.0
15.0
33
10
Mar
36.4
19.6
28
18
Apr
40.9
24.6
22
10
May
42.8
28.2
25
18
Jun
36.3
26.1
57
190
Jul
30.0
23.1
82
318
Aug
28.7
22.5
87
279
Sep
29.2
21.9
85
179
Oct
29.1
18.5
74
42
Nov
28.3
14.5
63
11
Dec
27.6
11.6
50
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Narkhed. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Narkhed
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for 11 months a year in Narkhed, 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 318 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 Maharashtra can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Narkhed?
For polyhouse farming in Narkhed, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Narkhed comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 24%. 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 January and costs less to run.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 318 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 February, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Narkhed
Based on Narkhed's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (11 months), chilli pepper (11 months) and tomato (10 months). Capsicum fits June to April with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Narkhed.
Months each crop suits in Narkhed
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jul–Jan
Jun–Apr
Tomato
Jul–Jan
Jul–Apr
Cucumber
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Jul–Feb
Jun–Apr
Brinjal
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Apr and Jun–Nov
Lettuce
Dec
Jul–Mar
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Rose
Dec
Oct–Mar
Gerbera
Dec
Jul–Mar
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Dec
Oct–Mar
Anthurium
Jul–Oct
Mar–Apr and Jun–Oct
Orchids
Jul–Oct
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.
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[6]
450 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.[6] Local demand in Narkhed may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.
Polyhouse farming in Narkhed with Kryzen
We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Narkhed is about 380 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Narkhed
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Narkhed:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Narkhed: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Narkhed?
Yes, with the right structure. For Narkhed 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 Narkhed?
With May highs of about 43°C and 25% 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 Narkhed?
Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, chilli pepper and tomato have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Narkhed?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Narkhed, capsicum 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 Narkhed?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 380 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 Narkhed 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.
