Planning polyhouse farming in Sonamukhi? Sonamukhi is a small town in Bankura district, West Bengal, home to about 29,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 130 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Sonamukhi 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 Sonamukhi
April is the hottest month in Sonamukhi, 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. Sonamukhi sits about 66 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Sonamukhi falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Sonamukhi 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 Sonamukhi. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Sonamukhi
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 10 months a year in Sonamukhi, 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 Sonamukhi?
For polyhouse farming in Sonamukhi, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Sonamukhi 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 Sonamukhi
Based on Sonamukhi'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 Sonamukhi.
Months each crop suits in Sonamukhi
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]
130 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)
The Census counted 27,000 people in Sonamukhi in 2001 and 29,000 in 2011, a rise of 6%.[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] Local demand in Sonamukhi may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Durgapur, about 30 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Kolkata is within a day's delivery, about 130 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Sonamukhi with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Sonamukhi is about 1,300 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Sonamukhi
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Sonamukhi:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Sonamukhi: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Sonamukhi?
Yes, with the right structure. For Sonamukhi 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 Sonamukhi?
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 Sonamukhi?
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 Sonamukhi?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Sonamukhi, 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 Sonamukhi?
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 Sonamukhi 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.
