Planning polyhouse farming in Phaltan? Phaltan is a town in Satara district, Maharashtra, home to about 53,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 80 km from Pune. We have used the monthly climate for Phaltan to plan a structure, a growing system and a crop calendar, so you can compare them with your own plot and buyers.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Phaltan
April is the hottest month in Phaltan, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 13°C.[3] The area gets about 871 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 219 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Phaltan falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]
Phaltan climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
29.9
12.6
45
1
Feb
33.3
15.3
35
2
Mar
36.5
18.7
32
6
Apr
39.0
21.8
34
6
May
38.1
22.4
48
26
Jun
30.8
21.9
74
167
Jul
28.0
21.1
82
219
Aug
27.4
20.5
84
193
Sep
28.1
20.1
83
151
Oct
28.9
18.3
75
80
Nov
28.7
15.1
67
18
Dec
28.6
12.7
56
2
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Phaltan. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Phaltan
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Phaltan, 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 219 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 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 Phaltan?
For polyhouse farming in Phaltan, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Phaltan comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 39°C while average humidity is only about 41%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 39°C April afternoon down to roughly 29°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, cool enough for lettuce and other leafy greens. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from June to January and costs less to run.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 219 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.9 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 Phaltan
Based on Phaltan'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 Phaltan.
Months each crop suits in Phaltan
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jun–Jan
All year
Tomato
Jun–Jan
All year
Cucumber
Feb and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Jun–Jan
All year
Brinjal
Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Lettuce
Jul–Aug
Jun–Apr
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Rose
Jul–Aug
Jul–Mar
Gerbera
Jul–Aug
Jun–Apr
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Jul–Aug
Jul–Mar
Anthurium
Jul–Oct
Mar–Oct
Orchids
Jul–Oct
Mar–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]
80 kmto Pune, 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 Phaltan may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Pune is within a day's delivery, about 80 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Phaltan with Kryzen
We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Phaltan is about 60 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Phaltan
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Phaltan:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Phaltan: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Phaltan?
Yes, with the right structure. For Phaltan we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Phaltan?
With April highs of about 39°C and 34% 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 Phaltan?
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 Phaltan?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Phaltan, 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 Phaltan?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 60 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 Phaltan 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.
