Polyhouse farming · Bihar

Polyhouse Farming in Purnia

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Purnia? Purnia is a large city in Purnia district, Bihar, home to about 3.1 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 370 km from Kolkata. 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 Purnia

May is the hottest month in Purnia, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 9°C.[2] The area gets about 1,348 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to September, peaking in July at about 357 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Purnia sits about 36 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Purnia falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]

Purnia climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan23.08.6556
Feb27.912.2449
Mar34.117.63420
Apr38.022.93752
May38.125.851122
Jun36.127.167211
Jul32.226.284357
Aug31.725.886253
Sep30.724.687236
Oct29.620.78076
Nov26.715.1724
Dec23.310.3652
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Purnia. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Purnia

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 10 months a year in Purnia, 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 357 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 Bihar can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Purnia?

For polyhouse farming in Purnia, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Purnia comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 38°C while average humidity is only about 44%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C May afternoon down to roughly 32°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 September to November and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 357 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. 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 Purnia

Based on Purnia's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (10 months), capsicum (9 months) and cucumber (9 months). Chilli pepper fits February to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Purnia.

Months each crop suits in Purnia

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Sep–NovFeb–May and Jul–Nov
TomatoFeb and Sep–DecFeb–Apr and Sep–Dec
CucumberJul–NovMar–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
BrinjalJul–NovMar–Nov
LettuceNov–FebOct–Apr
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Feb
StrawberryDec–JanNov–Feb
RoseFeb and Nov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
GerberaFeb and Nov–DecFeb–Apr and Oct–Dec
CarnationDec–JanNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumFeb and Nov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
AnthuriumOctMar–May and Jul–Oct
OrchidsOctMar–May and Jul–Oct
LiliumDec–JanNov–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 Purnia

Selling your harvest in and around Purnia

3.1 lakhPeople in Purnia (Census 2011)[1]
₹5,165Spending per person per month, urban Bihar, 2023–24[5]
370 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] Purnia 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 Purnia with Kryzen

We have built 2 projects in Bihar so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Purnia is about 1,400 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Purnia

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

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 Purnia: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Purnia?

Yes, with the right structure. For Purnia 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 Purnia?

With May highs of about 38°C and 51% 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 Purnia?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Purnia?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,400 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 Purnia 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 · Purnia (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)