Polyhouse farming · Manipur

Polyhouse Farming in Thoubal

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Thoubal, with a naturally ventilated polyhouse for a mild climate.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Thoubal? Thoubal is a town in Thoubal district, Manipur, home to about 46,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 620 km from Kolkata. This guide works from Thoubal's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.

Climate for polyhouse farming in Thoubal

April is the hottest month in Thoubal, with average daily highs of about 30°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 7°C.[3] The area gets about 1,267 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to October, peaking in July at about 218 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Thoubal sits about 765 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Thoubal falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[4]

Thoubal climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan22.07.4629
Feb24.89.65620
Mar28.113.45449
Apr29.616.965122
May29.619.175168
Jun29.120.682206
Jul28.520.885218
Aug28.420.985175
Sep27.620.185150
Oct25.917.984112
Nov24.113.37722
Dec22.39.36916
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Thoubal. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Thoubal

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, tomato can be grown for 10 months a year in Thoubal, 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 218 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 (May to November), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

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

Which polyhouse suits Thoubal?

For polyhouse farming in Thoubal, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. With average highs between 22°C and 30°C through the year, Thoubal suits a naturally ventilated polyhouse for most crops. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely needed; spend the budget on good ventilation, insect net and a shade screen. Plan for heavy rain in July (about 218 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.

Protected structures to compare

Crops for Thoubal

Based on Thoubal's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are tomato (10 months), capsicum (9 months) and chilli pepper (9 months). Tomato fits February to November in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and broccoli 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 Thoubal.

Months each crop suits in Thoubal

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouse
CapsicumMar–Nov
TomatoFeb–Nov
CucumberApr–Oct
Chilli pepperMar–Nov
BrinjalApr–Oct
LettuceSep–Feb
BroccoliDec–Jan
StrawberryNov–Feb
RoseFeb and Sep–Nov
GerberaFeb and Sep–Nov
CarnationFeb and Nov–Dec
ChrysanthemumFeb and Sep–Nov
AnthuriumApr–Oct
OrchidsApr–Oct
LiliumDec
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 Thoubal

Selling your harvest in and around Thoubal

46,000People in Thoubal (GeoNames)[1]
₹6,005Spending per person per month, urban Manipur, 2023–24[6]
620 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Manipur spent an average of ₹6,005 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Thoubal may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Imphal, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Thoubal with Kryzen

We have built one project in Manipur so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Thoubal is about 1,990 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Thoubal

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

Map of Manipur

Check other locations in Manipur

We have farm planning pages for 4 towns in Manipur, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Manipur locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Thoubal: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Thoubal?

Yes, with the right structure. For Thoubal we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse.

Which polyhouse is best for Thoubal?

With April highs of about 30°C and 65% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Thoubal?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Thoubal?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Thoubal, tomato and capsicum 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 Thoubal?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,990 km away, and we have built one project in Manipur.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Manipur 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 Thoubal 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 · Thoubal (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)