Polyhouse cost and subsidy in India: how to read a quotation

Cost is quoted per square metre, not per acre

One acre is about 4,047 square metres, so a difference of a few rupees per sqm becomes a large number very fast. Any supplier who answers 'cost per acre' without asking about your structure type, gutter height and site has not priced your project, they have priced an average.

The six variables that move the price

Ask for the quotation split across these lines and comparison becomes straightforward.

• Structure type: shade net house, naturally ventilated polyhouse, or fan-and-pad greenhouse
• Gutter height and span, which set the steel weight per square metre
• GI pipe section, coating thickness and whether the frame is designed to the local wind zone
• Cladding: film micron, UV grade, anti-drip and anti-insect net specification
• Included systems: drip, fertigation, foggers, thermal screen, automation, power backup
• Site work: levelling, foundation, freight distance and erection labour

How subsidy actually works

Protected cultivation is assisted under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), implemented through State horticulture departments and the National Horticulture Board. Assistance is generally a percentage of a departmental cost norm, subject to an area cap per beneficiary, with higher rates for certain categories and States. Because the norms, caps and State top-ups change between years, the only reliable figure is the one your district horticulture officer confirms in writing for the current year.

A practical sequence

Doing these steps in this order avoids the most common cause of rejected files: starting construction before approval.

• Confirm current year assistance and area cap with the district horticulture office
• Get the crop plan and buyer settled before the structure is designed
• Obtain itemised quotations from at least three suppliers on the same specification
• File the application with drawings, estimate and land documents, and wait for sanction
• Build to the sanctioned specification and keep photographic and bill records for inspection

Common questions

Is polyhouse farming profitable in India?

It can be, when the crop is high-value, the buyer is identified before construction and the structure is managed properly. Profitability follows market access and crop management discipline, not the structure itself.

Can I build first and apply for subsidy later?

Departments generally require sanction before construction and carry out joint inspection during and after the work. Building first commonly leads to rejection. Confirm the procedure with your district office.