Planning polyhouse farming in Rafiganj? Rafiganj is a small town in Aurangabad district, Bihar, home to about 36,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 450 km from Kolkata. This guide works from Rafiganj's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Rafiganj
May is the hottest month in Rafiganj, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 9°C.[3] The area gets about 1,000 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 279 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Rafiganj sits about 89 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Rafiganj falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[4]
Rafiganj climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
23.7
8.6
49
13
Feb
28.8
12.2
42
14
Mar
35.1
17.8
31
11
Apr
40.8
24.2
24
12
May
42.7
28.2
30
42
Jun
39.9
29.5
48
152
Jul
33.9
26.6
76
279
Aug
32.1
25.7
84
244
Sep
31.2
24.4
84
177
Oct
30.4
20.2
73
51
Nov
27.5
14.4
62
2
Dec
24.1
9.8
55
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Rafiganj. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Rafiganj
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Rafiganj cucumber can be grown for about 9 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
2
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.
3
Less water
Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps July's 279 mm of rain off the crop and the soil.
4
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.
5
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.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Rafiganj?
For polyhouse farming in Rafiganj, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Rafiganj comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 34%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 43°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.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 279 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.7 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 Rafiganj
Based on Rafiganj's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (9 months), chilli pepper (8 months) and lettuce (8 months). Cucumber fits March to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Rafiganj.
Months each crop suits in Rafiganj
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Oct–Nov
Feb–Apr and Aug–Nov
Tomato
Feb and Oct–Dec
Feb–Apr and Sep–Dec
Cucumber
Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb and Aug–Nov
Feb–Apr and Jul–Nov
Brinjal
Aug–Nov
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Lettuce
Nov–Jan
Sep–Apr
Broccoli
Jan
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Rose
Nov–Dec
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Gerbera
Nov–Dec
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Nov–Dec
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Anthurium
Difficult
Mar–Apr and Jul–Oct
Orchids
Difficult
Mar–Apr and Jul–Oct
Lilium
Jan
Nov–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.
₹5,165Spending per person per month, urban Bihar, 2023–24[6]
450 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.[6] Local demand in Rafiganj may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Gaya, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Rafiganj with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Bihar so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Rafiganj is about 1,100 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Rafiganj
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Rafiganj:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Rafiganj: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Rafiganj?
Yes, with the right structure. For Rafiganj we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to August, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Rafiganj?
With May highs of about 43°C and 30% 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 Rafiganj?
Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and lettuce have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Rafiganj?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Rafiganj, 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 Rafiganj?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,100 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 Rafiganj 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.
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.
