Polyhouse farming · Maharashtra

Polyhouse Farming in Udgir

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Udgir, with Fan & Pad cooling for dry summer heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Udgir? Udgir is a mid-sized city in Latur district, Maharashtra, home to about 1 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 180 km from Hyderabad. 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 Udgir

May is the hottest month in Udgir, with average daily highs of about 41°C. December has the coolest nights, averaging 13°C.[3] The area gets about 787 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in August at about 171 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Udgir sits about 632 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Udgir falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]

Udgir climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan30.113.5404
Feb33.816.8314
Mar37.220.62715
Apr40.124.72717
May40.926.63229
Jun34.023.763121
Jul30.722.075167
Aug29.621.479171
Sep29.121.082169
Oct29.018.77674
Nov28.715.26614
Dec28.813.1522
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Udgir. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Udgir

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for the whole year in Udgir, 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 August's 171 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 (July 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 Udgir?

For polyhouse farming in Udgir, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Udgir comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 41°C while average humidity is only about 30%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 41°C May afternoon down to roughly 30°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.

Protected structures to compare

Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.8 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 Udgir

Based on Udgir's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (all year), capsicum (11 months) and tomato (11 months). Chilli pepper fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Udgir.

Months each crop suits in Udgir

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumJul–JanJun–Apr
TomatoJul–JanJun–Apr
CucumberJan–Feb and Jun–NovJan–Nov
Chilli pepperJul–JanAll year
BrinjalJan and Jul–NovJan–Nov
LettuceDifficultJun–Mar
BroccoliDifficultNov–Feb
StrawberryDifficultNov–Jan
RoseDifficultAug–Mar
GerberaDifficultJul–Mar
CarnationDifficultNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumDifficultAug–Mar
AnthuriumAug–OctFeb–Oct
OrchidsAug–OctFeb–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 Udgir

Selling your harvest in and around Udgir

1 lakhPeople in Udgir (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,415Spending per person per month, urban Maharashtra, 2023–24[6]
180 kmto Hyderabad, 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 Udgir may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Latur, about 60 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Hyderabad is within a day's delivery, about 180 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Udgir with Kryzen

We have built 95 projects in Maharashtra so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Udgir is about 250 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Udgir

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

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 Udgir: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Udgir?

Yes, with the right structure. For Udgir we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to May, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Udgir?

With May highs of about 41°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 Udgir?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Udgir?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Udgir, chilli pepper 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 Udgir?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 250 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 Udgir 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 · Udgir (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)