Planning polyhouse farming in Barasat? Barasat is a mid-sized city in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, home to about 2.8 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 20 km from Kolkata. This guide works from Barasat'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 Barasat
April is the hottest month in Barasat, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 11°C.[2] The area gets about 1,719 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 370 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Barasat sits about 4 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Barasat falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Barasat climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
25.4
10.6
61
12
Feb
30.6
15.0
52
22
Mar
35.4
20.2
53
34
Apr
37.7
24.4
61
55
May
35.9
26.1
70
161
Jun
32.4
26.6
83
256
Jul
30.9
26.1
88
370
Aug
30.6
25.8
90
338
Sep
30.1
25.2
90
266
Oct
29.7
22.6
84
165
Nov
27.5
16.9
77
29
Dec
24.9
11.8
72
11
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Barasat. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Barasat
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 11 months a year in Barasat, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.
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 370 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 Barasat?
For polyhouse farming in Barasat, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in March to May, with moderate humidity of about 61%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C April afternoon down to roughly 33°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. Capsicum, cucumber and tomato do well in a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen. If you want one structure, decide by crop: greens all year point to Fan & Pad; vine crops point to a naturally ventilated house.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 370 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 Barasat
Based on Barasat's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (11 months), capsicum (10 months) and cucumber (10 months). Chilli pepper fits February to December with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Barasat.
Months each crop suits in Barasat
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Jul–Dec
Feb–May and Jul–Dec
Tomato
Sep–Feb
Sep–Apr
Cucumber
Feb and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb and Jun–Dec
Feb–Dec
Brinjal
Feb and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Lettuce
Nov–Jan
Oct–Mar
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Dec
Dec–Feb
Rose
Nov–Jan
Nov–Mar
Gerbera
Nov–Jan
Oct–Mar
Carnation
Dec
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Nov–Jan
Nov–Mar
Anthurium
Oct–Nov
Mar and Jun–Nov
Orchids
Oct–Nov
Mar and Jun–Nov
Lilium
Difficult
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.
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[5]
20 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] Barasat 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. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Kolkata is within a day's delivery, about 20 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Barasat with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Barasat is about 1,400 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Barasat
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Barasat:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Barasat: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Barasat?
Yes, with the right structure. For Barasat we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to September, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Barasat?
With April highs of about 38°C and 61% average humidity in that month, we would start with Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Barasat?
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 Barasat?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Barasat, 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 Barasat?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,400 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 Barasat 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.
