Planning polyhouse farming in Kolkata? Kolkata is a city of about 45 lakh people (Census 2011) in Kolkata district, West Bengal[1]. We have used the monthly climate for Kolkata 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 Kolkata
April is the hottest month in Kolkata, 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. Kolkata sits about 9 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Kolkata falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Kolkata climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
24.4
10.2
65
13
Feb
29.6
14.5
57
20
Mar
34.9
19.8
55
31
Apr
38.1
24.3
60
50
May
36.9
26.2
67
144
Jun
33.1
26.7
80
231
Jul
31.2
26.1
87
333
Aug
30.7
25.8
89
308
Sep
30.2
25.2
89
259
Oct
29.7
22.4
84
146
Nov
27.2
16.6
78
23
Dec
24.1
11.4
74
9
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Kolkata. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Kolkata
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Kolkata cucumber can be grown for about 7 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 333 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 Kolkata?
For polyhouse farming in Kolkata, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Kolkata 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.
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 Kolkata
Based on Kolkata'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 Kolkata.
Months each crop suits in Kolkata
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Aug–Nov
Feb–Mar and Jul–Nov
Tomato
Sep–Feb
Sep–Mar
Cucumber
Feb 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
Difficult
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
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]
The Census counted 45.8 lakh people in Kolkata in 2001 and 45 lakh in 2011, about the same. In 1991 it was 44 lakh.[1] 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] A city of this size has hotels, restaurants, modern retail and quick-commerce stores within its own limits, so most harvests can be sold locally. Line up two or three buyers before planting and agree on grade and delivery days.
Polyhouse farming in Kolkata with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Kolkata is about 1,380 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Kolkata
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Kolkata:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Kolkata: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Kolkata?
Yes, with the right structure. For Kolkata 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 Kolkata?
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 Kolkata?
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 Kolkata?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Kolkata, 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 Kolkata?
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 Kolkata 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.
