Polyhouse farming · Kerala

Polyhouse Farming in Thrissur

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Thrissur, with a well-ventilated polyhouse for humid heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Thrissur? Thrissur is a large city in Thrissur district, Kerala, home to about 3.2 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 310 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 Thrissur

March is the hottest month in Thrissur, with average daily highs of about 35°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 21°C.[2] The area gets about 2,277 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to November, peaking in June at about 439 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Thrissur sits about 47 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Thrissur falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[3]

Thrissur climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan32.521.1649
Feb34.422.65818
Mar34.924.56342
Apr33.025.474103
May30.625.582228
Jun28.424.688439
Jul27.423.991403
Aug27.523.591315
Sep27.923.589248
Oct28.523.686295
Nov29.122.982147
Dec30.021.47530
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Thrissur. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Thrissur

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, cucumber can be grown for 10 months a year in Thrissur, 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 June's 439 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 December), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Kerala can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Thrissur?

For polyhouse farming in Thrissur, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Thrissur the heat comes with humidity: during February to April average humidity is about 65%. Wet pads cool much less in humid air: on a typical March afternoon they would only bring 35°C down to about 31°C. So we usually start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide roof vents, insect net and a shade screen. A Fan & Pad polyhouse still makes sense if buyers need lettuce through the hottest months, but expect a smaller temperature drop than in dry inland towns.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in June (about 439 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.

Crops for Thrissur

Based on Thrissur's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (10 months), chilli pepper (10 months) and brinjal (10 months). Cucumber fits April to January in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and chrysanthemum 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 Thrissur.

Months each crop suits in Thrissur

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumMay–DecAll year
TomatoMay–DecAll year
CucumberApr–JanAll year
Chilli pepperApr–JanAll year
BrinjalApr–JanAll year
LettuceJul–SepJul–Feb
BroccoliDifficultDifficult
StrawberryDifficultDifficult
RoseDifficultDec–Jan
GerberaAug–SepNov–Feb and Aug–Sep
CarnationDifficultDifficult
ChrysanthemumDifficultDec–Jan
AnthuriumJun–DecAll year
OrchidsJun–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 Thrissur

Selling your harvest in and around Thrissur

3.2 lakhPeople in Thrissur (Census 2011)[1]
₹7,834Spending per person per month, urban Kerala, 2023–24[5]
310 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Kerala spent an average of ₹7,834 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Thrissur 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.

Polyhouse farming in Thrissur with Kryzen

Thrissur is about 860 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.

Towns near Thrissur

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

Map of Kerala

Check other locations in Kerala

We have farm planning pages for 51 towns in Kerala, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Kerala locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Thrissur: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Thrissur?

Yes, with the right structure. For Thrissur we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in March to June, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Thrissur?

With March highs of about 35°C and 63% average humidity in that month, we would start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Thrissur?

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 Thrissur?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 860 km away.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Kerala 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 Thrissur 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 · Thrissur (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. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (opens in a new tab)