Polyhouse farming · West Bengal

Polyhouse Farming in Tarakeswar

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Tarakeswar, with Fan & Pad for greens, natural ventilation for vine crops.

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Tarakeswar? Tarakeswar is a small town in Hooghly district, West Bengal, home to about 31,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 50 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Tarakeswar 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 Tarakeswar

April is the hottest month in Tarakeswar, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 10°C.[2] The area gets about 1,460 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 316 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Tarakeswar sits about 18 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Tarakeswar falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Tarakeswar climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan24.19.76411
Feb29.313.95418
Mar35.019.15029
Apr39.024.05550
May38.026.263144
Jun33.926.678221
Jul31.625.987316
Aug31.025.589282
Sep30.424.989233
Oct29.722.084130
Nov27.016.17817
Dec23.811.0739
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Tarakeswar. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Tarakeswar

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, cucumber can be grown for 10 months a year in Tarakeswar, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.

  • 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 316 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 Tarakeswar?

For polyhouse farming in Tarakeswar, 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 62%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 39°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.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 316 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.

Crops for Tarakeswar

Based on Tarakeswar'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 Tarakeswar.

Months each crop suits in Tarakeswar

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Aug–NovFeb–Mar and Jul–Nov
TomatoAug–FebAug–Mar
CucumberFeb and Jun–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
BrinjalFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
LettuceNov–JanOct–Mar
BroccoliDecNov–Feb
StrawberryDec–JanDec–Feb
RoseNov–JanNov–Mar
GerberaNov–JanOct–Mar
CarnationDec–JanNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumNov–JanNov–Mar
AnthuriumOct–NovMar and Jun–Nov
OrchidsOct–NovMar and Jun–Nov
LiliumDecNov–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.

Suggested crops for Tarakeswar

Selling your harvest in and around Tarakeswar

31,000People in Tarakeswar (Census 2011)[1]
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[5]
50 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 Tarakeswar may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Serampore, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Kolkata is within a day's delivery, about 50 km away.

Polyhouse farming in Tarakeswar with Kryzen

We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Tarakeswar is about 1,350 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Tarakeswar

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

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 Tarakeswar: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Tarakeswar?

Yes, with the right structure. For Tarakeswar 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 Tarakeswar?

With April highs of about 39°C and 55% 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 Tarakeswar?

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 Tarakeswar?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Tarakeswar, 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 Tarakeswar?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,350 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 Tarakeswar 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 · Tarakeswar (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)