Polyhouse farming · Gujarat

Polyhouse Farming in Umreth

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

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Umreth? Umreth is a small town in Anand district, Gujarat, home to about 34,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 70 km from Ahmedabad. 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 Umreth

May is the hottest month in Umreth, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 12°C.[3] The area gets about 967 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 331 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Umreth sits about 47 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Umreth falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]

Umreth climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan29.411.7341
Feb33.214.6282
Mar37.819.2254
Apr41.823.7283
May43.127.0374
Jun37.827.559143
Jul32.325.580331
Aug30.524.486306
Sep31.223.883152
Oct32.820.56615
Nov31.816.4524
Dec29.712.9422
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Umreth. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Umreth

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for the whole year in Umreth, 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 331 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 September), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

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

Which polyhouse suits Umreth?

For polyhouse farming in Umreth, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Umreth comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 33%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 43°C May afternoon down to roughly 33°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from December to January and August and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 331 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.5 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 Umreth

Based on Umreth's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (all year), capsicum (10 months) and tomato (10 months). Chilli pepper fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Umreth.

Months each crop suits in Umreth

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumDec–Jan and AugJul–Apr
TomatoDec–Jan and AugJul–Apr
CucumberFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperJul–JanAll year
BrinjalJul–NovFeb–Nov
LettuceDifficultAug–Apr
BroccoliDifficultDec–Feb
StrawberryDifficultDec–Feb
RoseDifficultOct–Mar
GerberaDifficultOct–Mar
CarnationDifficultNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumDifficultOct–Mar
AnthuriumDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
OrchidsDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
LiliumDifficultDec–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 Umreth

Selling your harvest in and around Umreth

34,000People in Umreth (GeoNames)[1]
₹7,198Spending per person per month, urban Gujarat, 2023–24[6]
70 kmto Ahmedabad, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Gujarat spent an average of ₹7,198 per person per month in 2023–24, close to the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Umreth may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Anand, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Ahmedabad is within a day's delivery, about 70 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Umreth with Kryzen

We have built 12 projects in Gujarat so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Umreth is about 310 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Umreth

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

Map of Gujarat

Check other locations in Gujarat

We have farm planning pages for 75 towns in Gujarat, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Gujarat locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Umreth: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Umreth?

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

Which polyhouse is best for Umreth?

With May highs of about 43°C and 37% 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 Umreth?

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 Umreth?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 310 km away, and we have built 12 projects in Gujarat.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Gujarat 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 Umreth 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 · Umreth (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)