Planning polyhouse farming in Kharagpur? Kharagpur is a mid-sized city in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, home to about 2.1 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 110 km from Kolkata. Below we use the town's monthly temperatures, humidity and rainfall to work out which structure fits, which crops to grow and in which months, before you spend on construction.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Kharagpur
April is the hottest month in Kharagpur, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 10°C.[2] The area gets about 1,516 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 314 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Kharagpur sits about 61 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Kharagpur falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Kharagpur climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
23.6
9.7
69
14
Feb
28.2
13.7
63
18
Mar
33.9
18.8
58
29
Apr
38.4
23.6
58
54
May
37.8
25.9
65
137
Jun
33.9
26.5
77
223
Jul
31.6
25.8
86
314
Aug
30.9
25.5
89
300
Sep
30.3
24.8
89
262
Oct
29.6
21.8
83
138
Nov
27.0
16.0
78
18
Dec
23.6
11.0
75
9
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Kharagpur. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Kharagpur
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for 10 months a year in Kharagpur, 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 314 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 December), 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 Kharagpur?
For polyhouse farming in Kharagpur, 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 June, with moderate humidity of about 65%. 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 314 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 Kharagpur
Based on Kharagpur's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (10 months), chilli pepper (10 months) and brinjal (10 months). Cucumber fits February to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Kharagpur.
Months each crop suits in Kharagpur
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Aug–Nov
Feb–Mar and Jun–Nov
Tomato
Aug–Feb
Aug–Mar
Cucumber
Feb–Mar and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Brinjal
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Lettuce
Nov–Jan
Oct–Mar
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Dec–Feb
Rose
Nov–Jan
Nov–Mar
Gerbera
Nov–Jan
Oct–Mar
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Nov–Jan
Nov–Mar
Anthurium
Oct–Nov
Mar and Jun–Nov
Orchids
Oct–Nov
Mar and Jun–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]
110 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] Kharagpur 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 110 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Kharagpur with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Kharagpur is about 1,270 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Kharagpur
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Kharagpur:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Kharagpur: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Kharagpur?
Yes, with the right structure. For Kharagpur 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 Kharagpur?
With April highs of about 38°C and 58% 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 Kharagpur?
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 Kharagpur?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Kharagpur, 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 Kharagpur?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,270 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 Kharagpur 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.
