Polyhouse farming · Rajasthan

Polyhouse Farming in Ratangarh

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Ratangarh, with Fan & Pad cooling for dry summer heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Ratangarh? Ratangarh is a town in Churu district, Rajasthan, home to about 71,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 260 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 Ratangarh

May is the hottest month in Ratangarh, with average daily highs of about 42°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 7°C.[3] Rain is scarce: about 403 mm a year. Water for the farm will come from a borewell, well, tanker or municipal supply, so test its salts (EC) and hardness before choosing the system. Ratangarh sits about 312 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Ratangarh falls in the hot desert zone (BWh).[4]

Ratangarh climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan21.47.3355
Feb25.510.43212
Mar31.816.42711
Apr37.922.62212
May41.627.32426
Jun41.330.03555
Jul38.328.851116
Aug36.626.85899
Sep36.524.55053
Oct34.519.9337
Nov28.514.1324
Dec23.29.0343
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Ratangarh. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Ratangarh

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Ratangarh cucumber can be grown for about 8 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.

  • 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

    With only about 403 mm of rain a year here, drip irrigation under cover saves water: less is lost to evaporation and run-off than in the open field.

  • Less pesticides

    Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Rajasthan can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Ratangarh?

For polyhouse farming in Ratangarh, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Ratangarh comes with dry air. In May to July, average highs reach 42°C while average humidity is only about 37%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 42°C May afternoon down to roughly 30°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 November and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.2 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 to March and November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Ratangarh

Based on Ratangarh'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 Ratangarh.

Months each crop suits in Ratangarh

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumNovMar–Apr and Sep–Nov
TomatoFeb and NovFeb–Apr and Sep–Nov
CucumberMar and NovMar–May and Jul–Nov
Chilli pepperMar and NovMar–May and Aug–Nov
BrinjalMar and NovMar–May and Aug–Nov
LettuceDec–FebOct–Apr
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Mar
StrawberryDec–JanNov–Feb
RoseFebFeb–Mar and Oct–Nov
GerberaFebFeb–Apr and Oct–Nov
CarnationDecFeb–Mar and Nov–Dec
ChrysanthemumFebFeb–Mar and Oct–Nov
AnthuriumDifficultMar–May and Aug–Oct
OrchidsDifficultMar–May and Aug–Oct
LiliumDecFeb–Mar and Nov–Dec
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 Ratangarh

Selling your harvest in and around Ratangarh

71,000People in Ratangarh (GeoNames)[1]
₹6,640Spending per person per month, urban Rajasthan, 2023–24[6]
260 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Rajasthan spent an average of ₹6,640 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Ratangarh may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Sujangarh, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Ratangarh with Kryzen

We have built 6 projects in Rajasthan so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Ratangarh is about 900 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Ratangarh

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

Map of Rajasthan

Check other locations in Rajasthan

We have farm planning pages for 79 towns in Rajasthan, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Rajasthan locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Ratangarh: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Ratangarh?

Yes, with the right structure. For Ratangarh 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 Ratangarh?

With May highs of about 42°C and 24% 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 Ratangarh?

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 Ratangarh?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 900 km away, and we have built 6 projects in Rajasthan.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Rajasthan?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Rajasthan 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 Ratangarh 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. GeoNames · Geographical database: populated places of India (opens in a new tab)
  2. Wikipedia · Ratangarh, Churu (opens in a new tab)
  3. NASA Langley Research Center · POWER Climatology API: long-term monthly averages (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rubel & Kottek, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna · World map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (opens in a new tab)
  6. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (opens in a new tab)