Polyhouse farming · West Bengal

Polyhouse Farming in Bally

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Bally, with a well-ventilated polyhouse for humid heat.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

Polyhouse farming in Bally: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Bally? Bally is a mid-sized city in Howrah district, West Bengal, home to about 2.9 lakh people (Census 2011)[1]. We have used the monthly climate for Bally 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 Bally

April is the hottest month in Bally, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 10°C.[2] The area gets about 1,567 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 333 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Bally sits about 15 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Bally falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Bally climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan24.410.26513
Feb29.614.55720
Mar34.919.85531
Apr38.124.36050
May36.926.267144
Jun33.126.780231
Jul31.226.187333
Aug30.725.889308
Sep30.225.289259
Oct29.722.484146
Nov27.216.67823
Dec24.111.4749
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Bally. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Bally

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Bally cucumber can be grown for about 7 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 333 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 (June to November), so you spray less often.

  • 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 Bally?

For polyhouse farming in Bally, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Bally the heat comes with humidity: during March to June average humidity is about 66%. Wet pads cool much less in humid air: on a typical April afternoon they would only bring 38°C down to about 33°C. So we usually start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide roof vents, insect net and a shade screen. A Fan & Pad polyhouse still makes sense if buyers need lettuce through the hottest months, but expect a smaller temperature drop than in dry inland towns.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 333 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 November to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Bally

Based on Bally's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (7 months), tomato (6 months) and chilli pepper (6 months). Cucumber fits February and June to November in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and broccoli 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 Bally.

Months each crop suits in Bally

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Aug–NovFeb–Mar and Jul–Nov
TomatoSep–FebSep–Mar
CucumberFeb and Jun–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
BrinjalFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
LettuceNov–JanOct–Mar
BroccoliDifficultNov–Feb
StrawberryDec–JanDec–Feb
RoseNov–JanNov–Mar
GerberaNov–JanOct–Mar
CarnationDec–JanNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumNov–JanNov–Mar
AnthuriumOct–NovMar and Jun–Nov
OrchidsOct–NovMar and Jun–Nov
LiliumDifficultNov–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 Bally

Selling your harvest in and around Bally

2.9 lakhPeople in Bally (Census 2011)[1]
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[5]

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] Bally 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. Howrah, about 10 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Bally with Kryzen

We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Bally is about 1,380 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Bally

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

Map of West Bengal

Check other locations in West Bengal

We have farm planning pages for 63 towns in West Bengal, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All West Bengal locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Bally: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Bally?

Yes, with the right structure. For Bally we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to September, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Bally?

With April highs of about 38°C and 60% average humidity in that month, we would start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Bally?

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 Bally?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,380 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 Bally 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 · Bally, Howrah (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)