Polyhouse farming · West Bengal

Polyhouse Farming in Mathabhanga

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Mathabhanga, with a naturally ventilated polyhouse for a mild climate.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Mathabhanga? Mathabhanga is a small town in Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, home to about 24,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 430 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Mathabhanga 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 Mathabhanga

April is the hottest month in Mathabhanga, with average daily highs of about 34°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 10°C.[2] The area gets about 2,066 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to October, peaking in July at about 475 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Mathabhanga sits about 50 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Mathabhanga falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[3]

Mathabhanga climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan22.39.9606
Feb26.512.65012
Mar31.817.04135
Apr34.421.349117
May33.923.765229
Jun32.325.280350
Jul30.925.387475
Aug30.825.187365
Sep30.023.987332
Oct28.520.681137
Nov25.716.0756
Dec22.912.0692
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Mathabhanga. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Mathabhanga

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Mathabhanga chilli pepper can be grown for about 9 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 475 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 Mathabhanga?

For polyhouse farming in Mathabhanga, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. With average highs between 22°C and 34°C through the year, Mathabhanga suits a naturally ventilated polyhouse for most crops. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely needed; spend the budget on good ventilation, insect net and a shade screen. Plan for heavy rain in July (about 475 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.

Protected structures to compare

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 Mathabhanga

Based on Mathabhanga's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (9 months), tomato (8 months) and cucumber (8 months). Chilli pepper fits February to March and June to December in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and carnation 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 Mathabhanga.

Months each crop suits in Mathabhanga

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Jul–DecFeb–Dec
TomatoJul–FebAll year
CucumberMar and May–NovMar–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb–Mar and Jun–DecFeb–Dec
BrinjalMar and Jun–NovMar–Nov
LettuceNov–FebSep–Apr
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Mar
StrawberryDec–JanDec–Feb
RoseNov–FebOct–Apr
GerberaNov–FebOct–Apr
CarnationDec–JanNov–Mar
ChrysanthemumNov–FebOct–Apr
AnthuriumSep–NovMar–Nov
OrchidsSep–NovMar–Nov
LiliumDec–JanNov–Mar
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 Mathabhanga

Selling your harvest in and around Mathabhanga

24,000People in Mathabhanga (Census 2011)[1]
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[5]
430 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] Local demand in Mathabhanga may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.

Polyhouse farming in Mathabhanga with Kryzen

We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Mathabhanga is about 1,590 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Mathabhanga

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

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 Mathabhanga: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Mathabhanga?

Yes, with the right structure. For Mathabhanga we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to August, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Mathabhanga?

With April highs of about 34°C and 49% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Mathabhanga?

Going by the monthly climate, tomato, capsicum and chilli pepper have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Mathabhanga?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Mathabhanga, chilli pepper 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 Mathabhanga?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,590 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 Mathabhanga 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 · Mathabhanga (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)