Planning polyhouse farming in Nilanga? Nilanga is a small town in Latur district, Maharashtra, home to about 36,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 200 km from Hyderabad. This guide works from Nilanga'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 Nilanga
May is the hottest month in Nilanga, with average daily highs of about 40°C. December has the coolest nights, averaging 13°C.[3] The area gets about 788 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in September at about 174 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Nilanga sits about 583 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Nilanga falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]
Nilanga climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
30.2
13.7
42
4
Feb
33.8
16.9
32
4
Mar
37.1
20.7
28
16
Apr
39.6
24.6
30
21
May
40.2
26.2
35
35
Jun
33.4
23.2
64
117
Jul
30.5
21.7
74
156
Aug
29.5
21.1
79
166
Sep
29.0
20.8
82
174
Oct
28.8
18.6
76
79
Nov
28.6
15.2
67
14
Dec
28.8
13.2
53
2
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Nilanga. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Nilanga
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Nilanga, 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 September's 174 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 (August to October), 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 Nilanga?
For polyhouse farming in Nilanga, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Nilanga comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 40°C while average humidity is only about 33%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 40°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 July to January and costs less to run.
Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.9 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 Nilanga
Based on Nilanga's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), chilli pepper (all year) and tomato (11 months). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Nilanga.
Months each crop suits in Nilanga
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jul–Jan
All year
Tomato
Jul–Jan
Jun–Apr
Cucumber
Jan–Feb and Jun–Nov
Jan–Nov
Chilli pepper
Jul–Jan
All year
Brinjal
Jan and Jul–Nov
Jan–Nov
Lettuce
Difficult
Jun–Mar
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Nov–Jan
Rose
Difficult
Aug–Mar
Gerbera
Difficult
Jun–Mar
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Aug–Mar
Anthurium
Aug–Oct
Feb–Oct
Orchids
Aug–Oct
Feb–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]
200 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 Nilanga may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Latur, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Hyderabad is within a day's delivery, about 200 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Nilanga with Kryzen
We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Nilanga is about 240 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Nilanga
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Nilanga:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Nilanga: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Nilanga?
Yes, with the right structure. For Nilanga we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to May, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Nilanga?
With May highs of about 40°C and 35% 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 Nilanga?
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 Nilanga?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Nilanga, 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 Nilanga?
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 Nilanga 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.
