Planning polyhouse farming in Shirur? Shirur is a large city in Pune district, Maharashtra, home to about 3.9 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 60 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 Shirur
April is the hottest month in Shirur, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 12°C.[2] The area gets about 811 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 194 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Shirur sits about 565 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Shirur falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[3]
Shirur climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
29.4
12.1
42
1
Feb
32.9
14.8
33
2
Mar
36.2
18.3
30
7
Apr
39.1
21.5
32
5
May
38.6
22.4
46
16
Jun
31.6
22.1
72
149
Jul
28.4
21.3
82
194
Aug
27.6
20.6
84
177
Sep
28.2
20.2
83
160
Oct
28.8
18.0
74
76
Nov
28.5
14.8
65
21
Dec
28.4
12.4
53
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Shirur. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Shirur
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Shirur, 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 194 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 September), 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.[4]
Which polyhouse suits Shirur?
For polyhouse farming in Shirur, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Shirur comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 39°C while average humidity is only about 39%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 39°C April afternoon down to roughly 28°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 July to January and costs less to run.
Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.1 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 Shirur
Based on Shirur'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 Shirur.
Months each crop suits in Shirur
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jul–Jan
All year
Tomato
Jul–Jan
All year
Cucumber
Feb and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Jun–Feb
All year
Brinjal
Feb and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Lettuce
Aug
Jun–Apr
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Rose
Aug
Jul–Apr
Gerbera
Aug
Jun–Apr
Carnation
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Aug
Jul–Apr
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[5]
60 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.[5] Shirur is large enough for steady local sales to restaurants, hotels and fruit-and-vegetable retailers. Start with a farm size that matches the orders you can confirm. Ahmednagar, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Pune is within a day's delivery, about 60 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Shirur with Kryzen
We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Shirur is about 70 km in a straight line from our Pune (PCMC) warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Shirur
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Shirur:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Shirur: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Shirur?
Yes, with the right structure. For Shirur 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 Shirur?
With April highs of about 39°C and 32% 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 Shirur?
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 Shirur?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Shirur, 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 Shirur?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Pune (PCMC) warehouse, about 70 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 Shirur 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.
