Planning polyhouse farming in Habra? Habra is a mid-sized city in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, home to about 1.5 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 40 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Habra 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 Habra
April is the hottest month in Habra, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 10°C.[2] The area gets about 1,593 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 342 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Habra sits about 13 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Habra falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Habra climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
25.0
10.0
60
11
Feb
30.2
14.3
51
19
Mar
35.6
19.5
48
32
Apr
38.7
24.1
56
59
May
37.0
26.0
67
165
Jun
33.1
26.3
81
244
Jul
31.2
25.9
88
342
Aug
30.9
25.6
89
301
Sep
30.4
25.0
89
238
Oct
29.7
22.2
84
148
Nov
27.4
16.5
78
23
Dec
24.6
11.4
72
11
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Habra. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Habra
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for 10 months a year in Habra, 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 342 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 (June 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 Habra?
For polyhouse farming in Habra, 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 63%. 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.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 342 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. A nethouse, the lowest-cost option, can grow hardy crops in November to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Habra
Based on Habra'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 Habra.
Months each crop suits in Habra
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Aug–Nov
Feb–Mar and Jun–Nov
Tomato
Sep–Feb
Sep–Mar
Cucumber
Feb and Jun–Nov
Feb–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Brinjal
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Lettuce
Nov–Jan
Oct–Mar
Broccoli
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Dec–Feb
Rose
Nov–Jan
Nov–Mar
Gerbera
Nov–Jan
Oct–Mar
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Nov–Jan
Nov–Mar
Anthurium
Oct–Nov
Mar and Jun–Nov
Orchids
Oct–Nov
Mar and Jun–Nov
Lilium
Difficult
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]
40 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)
The Census counted 1.3 lakh people in Habra in 2001 and 1.5 lakh in 2011, a rise of 15%.[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 Habra may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Barasat, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Kolkata is within a day's delivery, about 40 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Habra with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Habra is about 1,420 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Habra
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Habra:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Habra: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Habra?
Yes, with the right structure. For Habra 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 Habra?
With April highs of about 39°C and 56% 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 Habra?
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 Habra?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Habra, 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 Habra?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,420 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 Habra 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.
