Planning polyhouse farming in Malda? Malda is a mid-sized city in Malda district, West Bengal, home to about 2.1 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 270 km from Kolkata. This guide works from Malda's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Malda
April is the hottest month in Malda, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 9°C.[2] The area gets about 1,317 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 282 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Malda sits about 17 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Malda falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Malda climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
23.4
9.3
58
7
Feb
28.4
13.2
47
10
Mar
34.6
18.6
37
20
Apr
38.4
23.7
43
67
May
37.9
26.3
57
140
Jun
35.1
27.1
72
208
Jul
32.2
26.3
85
282
Aug
31.7
26.0
86
230
Sep
30.8
25.1
87
227
Oct
29.6
21.6
81
117
Nov
26.8
15.8
75
6
Dec
23.5
11.0
69
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Malda. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Malda
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, chilli pepper can be grown for 10 months a year in Malda, 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 282 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 Malda?
For polyhouse farming in Malda, 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 52%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C April afternoon down to roughly 30°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 282 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Crops for Malda
Based on Malda's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (10 months), capsicum (9 months) and cucumber (9 months). Chilli pepper fits February to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Malda.
Months each crop suits in Malda
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Sep–Nov
Feb–May and Jul–Nov
Tomato
Feb and Sep–Dec
Feb–Apr and Sep–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 Nov–Dec
Gerbera
Nov–Dec
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Nov–Dec
Feb–Mar and Nov–Dec
Anthurium
Oct–Nov
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Orchids
Oct–Nov
Mar–Apr 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]
270 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] Malda is large enough for steady local sales to restaurants, hotels and fruit-and-vegetable retailers. Start with a farm size that matches the orders you can confirm.
Polyhouse farming in Malda with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Malda is about 1,430 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Malda
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Malda:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Malda: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Malda?
Yes, with the right structure. For Malda 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 Malda?
With April highs of about 38°C and 43% 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 Malda?
Going by the monthly climate, chilli pepper, capsicum and cucumber have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Malda?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Malda, chilli pepper and capsicum 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 Malda?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,430 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 Malda 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.
