Polyhouse farming · Tamil Nadu

Polyhouse Farming in Sankari

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Sankari, with Fan & Pad for greens, natural ventilation for vine crops.

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Sankari? Sankari is a small town in Salem district, Tamil Nadu, home to about 29,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 170 km from Bengaluru. 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 Sankari

April is the hottest month in Sankari, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 17°C.[3] The area gets about 804 mm of rain a year. The wettest months are September to November, peaking in October at about 161 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in October to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Sankari sits about 271 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Sankari falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]

Sankari climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan30.716.5696
Feb34.018.0588
Mar37.121.45018
Apr37.824.55241
May35.524.46283
Jun33.822.96546
Jul33.322.66564
Aug33.122.16886
Sep32.221.972112
Oct30.521.578161
Nov28.619.582133
Dec28.717.27846
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Sankari. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Sankari

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Sankari, 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 161 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 (October to December), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

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

Which polyhouse suits Sankari?

For polyhouse farming in Sankari, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in February to August, with moderate humidity of about 60%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C April 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. Capsicum, cucumber and tomato do well in a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen. If you want one structure, decide by crop: greens all year point to Fan & Pad; vine crops point to a naturally ventilated house.

Protected structures to compare

Sunlight peaks in March at about 6.5 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 December to February and June to August, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Sankari

Based on Sankari's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and cucumber (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Lilium and strawberry 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 Sankari.

Months each crop suits in Sankari

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumOct–JanAll year
TomatoOct–JanAll year
CucumberJun–FebAll year
Chilli pepperSep–JanAll year
BrinjalSep–JanAll year
LettuceDifficultJul–Feb
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseDifficultOct–Feb
GerberaDifficultJul–Feb
CarnationDifficultDec
ChrysanthemumDifficultOct–Feb
AnthuriumNov–DecAll year
OrchidsNov–DecAll year
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 Sankari

Selling your harvest in and around Sankari

29,000People in Sankari (GeoNames)[1]
₹8,325Spending per person per month, urban Tamil Nadu, 2023–24[6]
170 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Tamil Nadu spent an average of ₹8,325 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Sankari may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Erode, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Bengaluru is within a day's delivery, about 170 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Sankari with Kryzen

We have built 9 projects in Tamil Nadu so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Sankari is about 840 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.

Towns near Sankari

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

Map of Tamil Nadu

Check other locations in Tamil Nadu

We have farm planning pages for 121 towns in Tamil Nadu, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Tamil Nadu locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Sankari: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Sankari?

Yes, with the right structure. For Sankari we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in March to June, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Sankari?

With April highs of about 38°C and 52% average humidity in that month, we would start with Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Sankari?

Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, tomato and cucumber have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Sankari?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 840 km away, and we have built 9 projects in Tamil Nadu.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Tamil Nadu?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Tamil Nadu 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 Sankari 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 · Sangagiri (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)