Polyhouse farming · Bihar

Polyhouse Farming in Arwal

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Arwal, with Fan & Pad cooling for dry summer heat.

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Arwal? Arwal is a town in Arwal district, Bihar, home to about 52,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 480 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Arwal 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 Arwal

May is the hottest month in Arwal, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 9°C.[3] The area gets about 1,000 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 279 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Arwal sits about 67 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Arwal falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[4]

Arwal climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan23.78.64913
Feb28.812.24214
Mar35.117.83111
Apr40.824.22412
May42.728.23042
Jun39.929.548152
Jul33.926.676279
Aug32.125.784244
Sep31.224.484177
Oct30.420.27351
Nov27.514.4622
Dec24.19.8553
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Arwal. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Arwal

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Arwal cucumber 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 279 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 (July to September), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Bihar can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]

Which polyhouse suits Arwal?

For polyhouse farming in Arwal, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Arwal comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 34%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 43°C May afternoon down to roughly 31°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 October to November and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 279 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.5 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months. A nethouse, the lowest-cost option, can grow hardy crops in February and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Arwal

Based on Arwal's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (9 months), chilli pepper (8 months) and lettuce (8 months). Cucumber fits March to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Arwal.

Months each crop suits in Arwal

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Oct–NovFeb–Apr and Aug–Nov
TomatoFeb and Oct–DecFeb–Apr and Sep–Dec
CucumberJul–NovMar–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb and Aug–NovFeb–Apr and Jul–Nov
BrinjalAug–NovMar–Apr and Jul–Nov
LettuceNov–JanSep–Apr
BroccoliJanNov–Feb
StrawberryDec–JanNov–Feb
RoseNov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
GerberaNov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
CarnationDec–JanNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumNov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
AnthuriumDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
OrchidsDifficultMar–Apr and Jul–Oct
LiliumJanNov–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 Arwal

Selling your harvest in and around Arwal

52,000People in Arwal (GeoNames)[1]
₹5,165Spending per person per month, urban Bihar, 2023–24[6]
480 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Bihar spent an average of ₹5,165 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Arwal may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Arrah, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Arwal with Kryzen

We have built 2 projects in Bihar so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Arwal is about 1,130 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Arwal

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

Map of Bihar

Check other locations in Bihar

We have farm planning pages for 72 towns in Bihar, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Bihar locations

Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.

Polyhouse farming in Arwal: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Arwal?

Yes, with the right structure. For Arwal we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to August, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Arwal?

With May highs of about 43°C and 30% 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 Arwal?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Arwal?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,130 km away, and we have built 2 projects in Bihar.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Bihar?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Bihar 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 Arwal 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. GeoNames · Geographical database: populated places of India (opens in a new tab)
  2. Wikipedia · Arwal (opens in a new tab)
  3. NASA Langley Research Center · POWER Climatology API: long-term monthly averages (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rubel & Kottek, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna · World map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (opens in a new tab)
  6. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (opens in a new tab)