Polyhouse Farming: What is Polyhouse, Benefits, Types, Setup Cost in India & More

As technology evolves with each passing day, agriculture is also developing. India has always been an agriculturally dominated country with suitable subtropical climatic conditions to do good agriculture. Although in recent years, the efficiency of crop production and the total turnover have reduced than usual times, people have faced many losses. Earlier it was believed that traditional methods for crop production were enough, but now, consumers have started demanding off-season yields.

After keeping these things in mind, a new technology was developed that could help in reducing the losses by achieving better profits and higher production in the same or lesser investment. This common solution is known as polyhouse farming. Polyhouse farming is a renowned modern method of farming that is gaining a lot of popularity in countries like India and Bangladesh. Polyhouse is designed to evolve the traditional strategy of farming that can bring more new opportunities for better yield and profit while using lesser resources.

If you have been planning for a polyhouse farming setup, then before you set, you should know what a polyhouse is, what is polyhouse farming, its types, polyhouse benefits, and much more. For a farmer looking for investment in agriculture, polyhouse farming is the best option as it is still a new trend that is on the stage of development instead of a developed factor. So, let's go through the complete guide about `polyhouse farming.

What is Polyhouse?

A polyhouse is the most demanding kind of greenhouse with a structure made up of galvanised iron structure with covering material of UV stabilized polyfilm. This structure utilizes the feature of controlled climatic conditions for the proper growth of the plants in different seasons. The size of a polyhouse varies from small-sized houses to industrial-sized buildings to cater to the additional polyhouse farming requirements based on the needs and resources.

Polyhouse farming is quite economical when compared to polycarbonate and glass covering structures. Mainly, polyfilm sheets separate the internal environment from the outside environment. Earlier, polyhouse was made using wooden frames, but the modern-day polyhouses have started using galvanised iron pipes or other strengthening materials that offer extra support. Such materials can withstand harsh weather conditions even if the size of the polyhouse is comparatively minimal.

People setting up polyhouse in places like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan should opt for polyhouse farming as they are quite suitable for harsh climate areas in India. The climatic conditions are maintained as the internal skeleton is covered with UV stabilized polyfilm sheets. Therefore, Polyhouse is comparatively a low-cost greenhouse farming solution.

These Potential Benefits of Polyhouse Farming Will Convince You To Invest In Polyhouse

Polyhouse farming in India offers a vast number of opportunities for commercial growers. It is an excellent farming option as the utilization of resources is efficient with a high-quality harvest. Moreover, crops are grown in a polyhouse to protect their crop from several external factors that could result in their damage. Let's discuss the polyhouse benefits to understand how it is better than the traditional style of farming.

Yields High-Quality Products

A consumer searches for high-quality products in the food market. Those who serve quality food items never worry about their demand. Polyhouse is one such protected structure with the right set of equipment and technology that helps monitor the development and growth of the crops properly. You have the control to manage the water and nutrient supply in a polyhouse as it aids in maintaining the industrial levels of quality standards. As a result, you will be able to yield high-quality products that will give you better profits.

Climate control feature

In states like Punjab and Haryana, the air temperature quickly rises more than 30 degrees celsius in march and other summer months, which eventually increases the temperature within the polyhouse. With the climate control feature in a polyhouse, you can grow plants in any region where the climatic conditions for crop production are entirely unfavourable.

A polyhouse constitutes several types of equipment installed for controlling variables like temperature, humidity, and air ventilation. For example, the fan pad system installed within a polyhouse works to control the temperature within a polyhouse. In addition, the digital control unit and sensory devices help monitor the climatic condition within a polyhouse.

Easily Grow Crops Vertically

Cucumbers and indeterminate tomatoes are suitable examples of crops grown vertically in a polyhouse. Vertical crop production gives the grower the freedom to utilize the space within a polyhouse efficiently, which helps in increasing the crop yield to almost 3 to 4 times.

Higher Yield With Better Productivity

Polyhouse farming is designed to increase crop production to almost 10-12 times, depending on crop type and its required management. The production of crops highly depends on biotic and abiotic factors like nutrient management, environmental conditions, pest and disease management, crop type, etc. growers are able to maintain a required temperature along with the appropriate nutrient supply within a polyhouse. Everything together results in maximized crop yields per unit area. Polyhouse makes use of modern techniques like aeroponics and hydroponics to increase crop production importantly.

Different Types of Polyhouse You Must Know About Before Investing in a Polyhouse

With the latest advancements in Polyhouses, the business of polyhouse has taken an enormous shift. As a result, many different polyhouses are there based on the used material type, site location, yield requirements, and much more. But mainly, a playhouse is divided into two categories which are listed below:

Based On The Environmental Control System

Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse

A naturally ventilated polyhouse is a traditional and basic polyhouse with climatic control features. As a result, the plants and crops within your polyhouse are under climatic conditions. Some few helping aids in such traditional types of polyhouses are drip irrigation systems, foggers, pest control systems, and ventilation control. Still, they cannot completely control the outside conditions but surely they intend the crop cycle and also the production.

Environmentally Controlled Polyhouse

One of the most sophisticated types of polyhouses is environmentally controlled polyhouses. This type of polyhouse comes with additional functional features of controlling the humidity, sunlight, temperature, etc. The better controlling system of a polyhouse prolongs the crop period by also allowing you to grow the season's most exotic off-season crop. Cultivate the uncultivatable crops of other regions in the environmentally controlled polyhouse, a modern type of polyhouse.

Based on the Construction Type

Low Tech Cheap Polyhouse

One of the simplest polyhouses is low-tech cheap polyhouses that need less money for their setup. Locally obtained products like bamboo are used to construct such a polyhouse. A UV stabilized is used to do cladding, and also such polyhouse types do not contain high technology adjusters. Shades are used on the transparent roof of the polyhouse to modulate the light entering the polyhouse. Such polyhouses can be built in less time and used as a shelter for crops during heavy rainfall.

Moderate Tech Polyhouse

Such polyhouses are durable and constructed with the use of galvanized iron pipes designed to offer more resilience to the changing natural weather conditions. The arrangement within a moderate tech polyhouse is grounded firmly to provide better protection against high winds and harsh climatic conditions. This type of polyhouse contains thermostats to manage the temperatures within a polyhouse. Also, exhaust within the moderate tech polyhouse helps control the humidity and temperature. Such polyhouses are suitable for areas having dry climates as they ask for more care and timely repairs.

High-Tech Polyhouse

One of the most advanced types of polyhouse is the high-grade polyhouse equipped with the latest technologies and an automated system to control everything happening within the polyhouse.

Polyhouse Construction Cost To Start Polyhouse Farming in India

Polyhouse construction cost entirely depends on the type of polyhouse you are planning to get installed. The polyhouse cost increases when we move from low tech polyhouse to a high-tech polyhouse. The cheapest polyhouse setup cost in India is around Rs.600 per square metre in a tunnel form. A naturally ventilated polyhouse will cost around Rs. 800 to Rs. 900 per square meter with no automation system being involved. The high-tech type of polyhouses is designed with the use of modern machinery and fully automated systems. Such polyhouse construction cost is up to Rs. 4000 per square meter, with the starting range of around Rs. 2000 per square meter based on the requirements.

The net profit you can earn after the polyhouse is set up in India is easily around 8 lacs to 20 lacs per acre per annum depending on various crops. Polyhouse farming is one of the excellent income sources that help in maintaining crop quality even in adverse climatic conditions.

Suitable Crops To Grow in Polyhouse/Nethouse Farming

Polyhouses are used to cultivate almost any kind of crop under the synthetic roof. You have the freedom to grow off-season varieties of fruits and vegetables along with exotic flowers. Polyhouse aids in yielding below given kinds of crops:

Fruits

• Raspberries

• Strawberries

• Muskmelon

• Peach

• Papaya

• Grapes

• Pomegranate

• Banana

Vegetables

• Capsicum

• Tomatoes

• Chillis

• English Cucumber

• Leafy Vegetables

Flowers

• Chrysanthemum

• Gerbera

• Orchid

• Rose

• Carnation

Nursery Plantations

• Cacti

• Colourful Exotic Plants

• Miniature species

• Ornamental indoor plants, etc.

Steps To Choose The Best Construction Site for Polyhouse Farming

Polyhouse farming is designed to grow crops in colder regions that need a warm climate for growth. With better advancements in technology, you can produce multiple crops in limited available space. But to do that, you also need to select the best construction site that could give you better long-term results.

So, let's check some factors to consider to make the proper polyhouse location selection:

Pollution

Polyhouse should be located in an efficient and suitable environment for crop growth. So, choose a polyhouse site that is away from pollution. It is because farming should always be done in remote areas with fewer carbon emissions from vehicles and other industries.

Water Stagnation

While selecting a site for the polyhouse set up in India, please choose the one with no low-lying area as it might be a reason later for water clogging issues during the water release time or the monsoon time. Waterlogging damages the crops, so you need to be careful while selecting the polyhouse site.

Reachability

Although, the polyhouse you choose should be away from the hustle and bustle of the city to grow a healthy crop. You should still select a polyhouse site that is easily accessible and is connected well through different modes of transport.

Conclusion

Polyhouse farming is gaining wide popularity in India. One of the profitable farming methods allows the growers to grow excellent and exotic crops even in the changed climatic conditions. It's time for you to increase crop yield with India's best and most advanced farming methods. It is found that polyhouse benefits you with around 10-12 times increased high-quality crop productivity. If you are thinking of a new business, give 'agriculture' one thought and see how consumers like you are ready to invest hard-earned money in exotic fruits, vegetables, and flowers. It's time to evolve than stick with the old traditional methods, as change is the key to a good life.

If you are stuck with how to set up a polyhouse in India and what type of polyhouse is suitable according to your requirements, then get in touch with the professional and experienced team of Agriplast Protected Cultivation Private Limited to get the right set of polyhouse installed keeping in mind all the necessary measures.