Planning polyhouse farming in Alipurduar? Alipurduar is a town in Alipurduar district, West Bengal, home to about 65,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 450 km from Kolkata. This guide works from Alipurduar'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 Alipurduar
April is the hottest month in Alipurduar, with average daily highs of about 34°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 10°C.[2] The area gets about 2,066 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to October, peaking in July at about 475 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Alipurduar sits about 93 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Alipurduar falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[3]
Alipurduar climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
22.3
9.9
60
6
Feb
26.5
12.6
50
12
Mar
31.8
17.0
41
35
Apr
34.4
21.3
49
117
May
33.9
23.7
65
229
Jun
32.3
25.2
80
350
Jul
30.9
25.3
87
475
Aug
30.8
25.1
87
365
Sep
30.0
23.9
87
332
Oct
28.5
20.6
81
137
Nov
25.7
16.0
75
6
Dec
22.9
12.0
69
2
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Alipurduar. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Alipurduar
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Alipurduar chilli pepper 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 475 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 (June to November), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in West Bengal can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]
Which polyhouse suits Alipurduar?
For polyhouse farming in Alipurduar, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. With average highs between 22°C and 34°C through the year, Alipurduar suits a naturally ventilated polyhouse for most crops. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely needed; spend the budget on good ventilation, insect net and a shade screen. Plan for heavy rain in July (about 475 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 to March and November, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Alipurduar
Based on Alipurduar's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (9 months), tomato (8 months) and cucumber (8 months). Chilli pepper fits February to March and June to December in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and carnation are hard to time here, so we would leave them out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Alipurduar.
Months each crop suits in Alipurduar
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Jul–Dec
Feb–Dec
Tomato
Jul–Feb
All year
Cucumber
Mar and May–Nov
Mar–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb–Mar and Jun–Dec
Feb–Dec
Brinjal
Mar and Jun–Nov
Mar–Nov
Lettuce
Nov–Feb
Sep–Apr
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Dec–Feb
Rose
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Gerbera
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Chrysanthemum
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Anthurium
Sep–Nov
Mar–Nov
Orchids
Sep–Nov
Mar–Nov
Lilium
Dec–Jan
Nov–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.
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[5]
450 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in West Bengal spent an average of ₹5,903 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Local demand in Alipurduar may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.
Polyhouse farming in Alipurduar with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Alipurduar is about 1,620 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Alipurduar
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Alipurduar:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Alipurduar: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Alipurduar?
Yes, with the right structure. For Alipurduar we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to August, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Alipurduar?
With April highs of about 34°C and 49% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Alipurduar?
Going by the monthly climate, tomato, capsicum and chilli pepper have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Alipurduar?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Alipurduar, chilli pepper and tomato 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 Alipurduar?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,620 km away, and we have built 2 projects in West Bengal.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in West Bengal?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in West Bengal 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 Alipurduar 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.
