Planning polyhouse farming in Durgapur? Durgapur is a large city in Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal, home to about 5.7 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 150 km from Kolkata. This guide works from Durgapur'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 Durgapur
April is the hottest month in Durgapur, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 9°C.[2] The area gets about 1,368 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 305 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Durgapur sits about 65 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Durgapur falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Durgapur climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
23.6
9.3
62
11
Feb
28.6
13.3
54
13
Mar
34.7
18.4
46
24
Apr
39.2
23.5
48
50
May
38.9
26.0
58
129
Jun
35.2
26.6
73
211
Jul
32.1
25.7
84
305
Aug
31.2
25.4
87
270
Sep
30.5
24.6
88
227
Oct
29.5
21.4
82
109
Nov
26.8
15.6
76
11
Dec
23.6
10.6
71
8
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Durgapur. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Durgapur
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 10 months a year in Durgapur, 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 305 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 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 Durgapur?
For polyhouse farming in Durgapur, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Durgapur comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 39°C while average humidity is only about 53%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 39°C April 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.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 305 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Crops for Durgapur
Based on Durgapur's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (10 months), cucumber (9 months) and brinjal (9 months). Chilli pepper fits February to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Durgapur.
Months each crop suits in Durgapur
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Sep–Nov
Feb–Apr and Jul–Nov
Tomato
Feb and Sep–Dec
Feb–Apr and Aug–Dec
Cucumber
Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Brinjal
Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Lettuce
Nov–Jan
Oct–Mar
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Dec–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
Oct–Nov
Mar and Jul–Nov
Orchids
Oct–Nov
Mar and Jul–Nov
Lilium
Dec–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.
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[5]
150 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] Durgapur 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 150 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Durgapur with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Durgapur is about 1,300 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Durgapur
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Durgapur:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Durgapur: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Durgapur?
Yes, with the right structure. For Durgapur we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to September, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Durgapur?
With April highs of about 39°C and 48% 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 Durgapur?
Going by the monthly climate, chilli pepper, cucumber and brinjal have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Durgapur?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Durgapur, chilli pepper and cucumber 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 Durgapur?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,300 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 Durgapur 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.
