Polyhouse farming · Andhra Pradesh

Polyhouse Farming in Palacole

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Palacole, with a well-ventilated polyhouse for humid heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Palacole? Palacole is a town in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, home to about 81,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 360 km from Hyderabad. This guide works from Palacole'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 Palacole

May is the hottest month in Palacole, with average daily highs of about 35°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 20°C.[2] The area gets about 1,186 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to October, peaking in October at about 233 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Palacole sits about 5 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Palacole falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Palacole climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan28.220.4715
Feb30.521.66810
Mar33.323.96710
Apr34.926.26823
May35.128.16957
Jun32.727.574153
Jul30.926.480200
Aug29.825.985192
Sep29.625.986200
Oct29.625.182233
Nov28.522.97979
Dec27.620.97524
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Palacole. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Palacole

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, cucumber can be grown for 10 months a year in Palacole, 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 October's 233 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 December), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

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

Which polyhouse suits Palacole?

For polyhouse farming in Palacole, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Palacole the heat comes with humidity: during March to May average humidity is about 68%. Wet pads cool much less in humid air: on a typical May afternoon they would only bring 35°C down to about 32°C. So we usually start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide roof vents, insect net and a shade screen. A Fan & Pad polyhouse still makes sense if buyers need lettuce through the hottest months, but expect a smaller temperature drop than in dry inland towns.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in October (about 233 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.4 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 November to March, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Palacole

Based on Palacole's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (10 months), chilli pepper (9 months) and brinjal (9 months). Cucumber fits June to March in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and carnation are hard to time here, so we would leave them out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Palacole.

Months each crop suits in Palacole

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumJul–FebJul–Apr
TomatoOct–FebOct–Mar
CucumberJun–MarAll year
Chilli pepperJun–FebJun–Apr
BrinjalJun–FebJun–Apr
LettuceDecNov–Mar
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseDecDec–Jan
GerberaDecNov–Feb
CarnationDifficultDifficult
ChrysanthemumDecDec–Jan
AnthuriumAug–JanJun–Apr
OrchidsAug–JanJun–Apr
LiliumDifficultDifficult
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 Palacole

Selling your harvest in and around Palacole

81,000People in Palacole (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,341Spending per person per month, urban Andhra Pradesh, 2023–24[5]
360 kmto Hyderabad, the nearest metro (straight line)

The Census counted 76,000 people in Palacole in 2001 and 81,000 in 2011, a rise of 6%. In 1991 it was 57,000.[1] Urban households in Andhra Pradesh spent an average of ₹7,341 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Local demand in Palacole may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.

Polyhouse farming in Palacole with Kryzen

We have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Palacole is about 770 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Palacole

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

Map of Andhra Pradesh

Check other locations in Andhra Pradesh

We have farm planning pages for 84 towns in Andhra Pradesh, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Andhra Pradesh locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Palacole: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Palacole?

Yes, with the right structure. For Palacole we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to October, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Palacole?

With May highs of about 35°C and 69% average humidity in that month, we would start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Palacole?

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 Palacole?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 770 km away, and we have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Andhra Pradesh?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Andhra 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 Palacole 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. Wikipedia · Palakollu (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)