Polyhouse farming · Tripura

Polyhouse Farming in Belonia

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Belonia, 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 Belonia: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Belonia? Belonia is a small town in South Tripura District, Tripura, home to about 20,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 320 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Belonia 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 Belonia

April is the hottest month in Belonia, with average daily highs of about 34°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 11°C.[3] The area gets about 2,395 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to October, peaking in July at about 468 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Belonia sits about 23 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Belonia falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[4]

Belonia climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan23.710.67011
Feb28.214.06020
Mar33.019.05856
Apr34.123.069166
May32.524.880330
Jun30.825.589439
Jul30.425.391468
Aug30.525.190366
Sep30.224.790292
Oct29.522.486187
Nov27.117.38140
Dec24.012.87820
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Belonia. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Belonia

  • Year-round crops

    Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 10 months a year in Belonia, 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 468 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 (May to December), so you spray less often.

  • Subsidy eligible

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

Which polyhouse suits Belonia?

For polyhouse farming in Belonia, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. With average highs between 24°C and 34°C through the year, Belonia 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 468 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 to December, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Belonia

Based on Belonia's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (10 months), tomato (9 months) and cucumber (9 months). Chilli pepper fits February to March and May to December in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and orchids 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 Belonia.

Months each crop suits in Belonia

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Jun–DecFeb–Dec
TomatoJun–FebAll year
CucumberFeb–Mar and May–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb–Mar and May–DecFeb–Dec
BrinjalFeb–Mar and May–NovFeb–Nov
LettuceNov–JanOct–Mar
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Feb
StrawberryDec–JanDec–Feb
RoseNov–JanNov–Mar
GerberaNov–JanOct–Mar
CarnationDec–JanNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumNov–JanNov–Mar
AnthuriumOct–NovMar–Nov
OrchidsOct–NovMar–Nov
LiliumDec–JanNov–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 Belonia

Selling your harvest in and around Belonia

20,000People in Belonia (GeoNames)[1]
₹8,118Spending per person per month, urban Tripura, 2023–24[6]
320 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)

Urban households in Tripura spent an average of ₹8,118 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Belonia may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Agartala, about 70 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Belonia with Kryzen

We have built one project in Tripura so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Belonia is about 1,710 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Belonia

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

Map of Tripura

Check other locations in Tripura

We have farm planning pages for 7 towns in Tripura, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All Tripura locations

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

Polyhouse farming in Belonia: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Belonia?

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

Which polyhouse is best for Belonia?

With April highs of about 34°C and 69% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Belonia?

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 Belonia?

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

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,710 km away, and we have built one project in Tripura.

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

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Tripura 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 Belonia 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 · Belonia, India (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)