Planning polyhouse farming in Orai? Orai is a mid-sized city in Uttar Pradesh, home to about 1.6 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 370 km from Delhi. 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 Orai
May is the hottest month in Orai, with average daily highs of about 44°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 8°C.[3] The area gets about 729 mm of rain a year, most of it in July to September, peaking in July at about 218 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Orai sits about 131 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Orai falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]
Orai climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
23.7
7.8
43
13
Feb
28.4
11.2
38
14
Mar
34.9
17.1
28
10
Apr
41.0
24.0
20
7
May
44.1
29.2
21
18
Jun
42.0
30.8
38
90
Jul
35.4
27.5
69
218
Aug
33.1
25.9
79
204
Sep
32.8
23.9
76
119
Oct
32.5
19.5
59
25
Nov
28.8
14.0
49
5
Dec
24.8
9.4
45
6
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Orai. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Orai
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Orai cucumber can be grown for about 8 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
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 (August to September), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Uttar Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Orai?
For polyhouse farming in Orai, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Orai comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 44°C while average humidity is only about 26%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 44°C May afternoon down to roughly 32°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 and costs less to run.
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. 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 February and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Orai
Based on Orai's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (8 months), chilli pepper (7 months) and brinjal (7 months). Cucumber fits March to May and July to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Orai.
Months each crop suits in Orai
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Nov
Mar–Apr and Aug–Nov
Tomato
Feb and Nov
Feb–Apr and Sep–Nov
Cucumber
Aug–Nov
Mar–May and Jul–Nov
Chilli pepper
Sep–Nov
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Brinjal
Sep–Nov
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Lettuce
Dec–Jan
Oct–Apr
Broccoli
Jan
Nov–Mar
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Rose
Difficult
Feb–Mar and Oct–Nov
Gerbera
Difficult
Feb–Mar and Oct–Nov
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Feb–Mar and Oct–Nov
Anthurium
Difficult
Mar–Apr and Aug–Oct
Orchids
Difficult
Mar–Apr and Aug–Oct
Lilium
Jan
Nov–Mar
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.
₹5,474Spending per person per month, urban Uttar Pradesh, 2023–24[6]
370 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Uttar Pradesh spent an average of ₹5,474 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Orai is large enough for steady local sales to restaurants, hotels and fruit-and-vegetable retailers. Start with a farm size that matches the orders you can confirm.
Polyhouse farming in Orai with Kryzen
We have built 6 projects in Uttar Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Orai is about 800 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Orai
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Orai:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Orai: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Orai?
Yes, with the right structure. For Orai we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to September, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Orai?
With May highs of about 44°C and 21% 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 Orai?
Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and brinjal have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Orai?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Orai, cucumber 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 Orai?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 800 km away, and we have built 6 projects in Uttar Pradesh.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Uttar Pradesh?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Uttar Pradesh 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 Orai 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.
