Polyhouse farming · Maharashtra

Polyhouse Farming in Satara

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

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Satara? Satara is a mid-sized city in Satara district, Maharashtra, home to about 1.2 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 90 km from Pune. 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 Satara

April is the hottest month in Satara, with average daily highs of about 37°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 13°C.[2] The area gets about 2,045 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to October, peaking in July at about 625 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Satara sits about 742 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Satara falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Satara climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan29.412.8490
Feb32.715.0411
Mar35.517.7413
Apr37.220.0464
May34.821.36048
Jun27.621.783457
Jul24.921.392625
Aug24.620.692485
Sep25.520.090290
Oct27.018.381112
Nov27.015.47218
Dec27.613.2592
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Satara, adjusted for the town's elevation[4]. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Satara

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Satara, 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 July's 625 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 (June to October), so you spray less often.

  • 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 Satara?

For polyhouse farming in Satara, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in March to May, with moderate humidity of about 49%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 37°C April afternoon down to roughly 30°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

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 625 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 7.0 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 February, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Satara

Based on Satara'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 Satara.

Months each crop suits in Satara

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumJun–JanAll year
TomatoJun–JanAll year
CucumberFeb and Jun–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperJun–FebAll year
BrinjalFeb and Jun–NovFeb–Nov
LettuceJun–DecJun–Mar
BroccoliDifficultNov–Feb
StrawberryDifficultNov–Feb
RoseJul–DecJul–Mar
GerberaJun–DecJun–Mar
CarnationDifficultNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumJul–DecJul–Mar
AnthuriumJun–OctMar–Oct
OrchidsJun–OctMar–Oct
LiliumDifficultNov–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.

Suggested crops for Satara

Selling your harvest in and around Satara

1.2 lakhPeople in Satara (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[6]
90 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 Satara 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 90 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Satara with Kryzen

We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Satara is close to our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), so materials and our team are nearby.

Towns near Satara

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

Map of Maharashtra

Check other locations in Maharashtra

We have farm planning pages for 130 towns in Maharashtra, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Maharashtra locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Satara: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Satara?

Yes, with the right structure. For Satara 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 April to May, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Satara?

With April highs of about 37°C and 46% 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 Satara?

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 Satara?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 30 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 Satara 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 · Satara (city) (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. Registry of Open Data on AWS · Terrain Tiles: global elevation data (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)