Polyhouse farming · Bihar

Polyhouse Farming in Muzaffarpur

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Muzaffarpur, 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 Muzaffarpur: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Muzaffarpur? Muzaffarpur is a large city in Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, home to about 3.3 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 500 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Muzaffarpur to plan a structure, a growing system and a crop calendar, so you can compare them with your own plot and buyers.

Climate for polyhouse farming in Muzaffarpur

May is the hottest month in Muzaffarpur, with average daily highs of about 41°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 8°C.[2] The area gets about 1,060 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 295 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Muzaffarpur sits about 60 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Muzaffarpur falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]

Muzaffarpur climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan23.18.0519
Feb28.111.74314
Mar34.717.43112
Apr39.823.52920
May40.927.33861
Jun39.028.853166
Jul33.826.878295
Aug32.726.083233
Sep31.524.684196
Oct30.720.57450
Nov27.814.5631
Dec23.89.6573
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Muzaffarpur. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Muzaffarpur

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Muzaffarpur cucumber can be grown for about 9 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.

  • 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 295 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 Bihar can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Muzaffarpur?

For polyhouse farming in Muzaffarpur, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Muzaffarpur comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 41°C while average humidity is only about 40%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 41°C May afternoon down to roughly 31°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 February and October to November and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 295 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.3 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 February and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Muzaffarpur

Based on Muzaffarpur's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (9 months), chilli pepper (9 months) and brinjal (8 months). Cucumber fits March to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Muzaffarpur.

Months each crop suits in Muzaffarpur

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Oct–NovFeb–Apr and Aug–Nov
TomatoFeb and Oct–DecFeb–Apr and Sep–Dec
CucumberJul–NovMar–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb and Aug–NovFeb–May and Jul–Nov
BrinjalAug–NovMar–May and Jul–Nov
LettuceNov–JanOct–Apr
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Mar
StrawberryDec–JanNov–Feb
RoseNov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
GerberaNov–DecFeb–Apr and Oct–Dec
CarnationDec–JanNov–Mar
ChrysanthemumNov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
AnthuriumDifficultMar–May and Jul–Oct
OrchidsDifficultMar–May and Jul–Oct
LiliumDec–JanNov–Mar
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 Muzaffarpur

Selling your harvest in and around Muzaffarpur

3.3 lakhPeople in Muzaffarpur (Census 2011)[1]
₹5,165Spending per person per month, urban Bihar, 2023–24[5]
500 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Bihar spent an average of ₹5,165 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Muzaffarpur 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 Muzaffarpur with Kryzen

We have built 2 projects in Bihar so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Muzaffarpur is about 1,240 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Muzaffarpur

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

Map of Bihar

Check other locations in Bihar

We have farm planning pages for 72 towns in Bihar, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Bihar locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Muzaffarpur: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Muzaffarpur?

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

Which polyhouse is best for Muzaffarpur?

With May highs of about 41°C and 38% 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 Muzaffarpur?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Muzaffarpur?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,240 km away, and we have built 2 projects in Bihar.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Bihar 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 Muzaffarpur 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 · Muzaffarpur (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)