Polyhouse farming · Bihar

Polyhouse Farming in Murliganj

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

Sudhir Devkar, founder of Kryzen Biotech

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

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

Planning polyhouse farming in Murliganj? Murliganj is a small town in Madhepura district, Bihar, home to about 29,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 390 km from Kolkata. This guide works from Murliganj'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 Murliganj

May is the hottest month in Murliganj, with average daily highs of about 39°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 8°C.[3] The area gets about 1,165 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 317 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Murliganj falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[4]

Murliganj climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan23.18.3537
Feb28.012.04410
Mar34.417.63219
Apr38.623.23440
May39.026.34797
Jun37.227.662182
Jul32.726.382317
Aug32.025.985217
Sep31.024.686211
Oct29.920.67960
Nov27.214.9693
Dec23.69.9622
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Murliganj. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Murliganj

  • Year-round crops

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Murliganj capsicum 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 317 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 October), 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 Murliganj?

For polyhouse farming in Murliganj, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Murliganj comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 39°C while average humidity is only about 41%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 39°C May afternoon down to roughly 32°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 September to November and costs less to run.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 317 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 February and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Murliganj

Based on Murliganj's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (9 months), cucumber (9 months) and chilli pepper (9 months). Capsicum fits February to May and July to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Murliganj.

Months each crop suits in Murliganj

CropNaturally ventilated polyhouseWith Fan & Pad cooling
CapsicumFeb and Sep–NovFeb–May and Jul–Nov
TomatoFeb and Sep–DecFeb–Apr and Sep–Dec
CucumberJul–NovMar–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb and Jul–NovFeb–May and Jul–Nov
BrinjalJul–NovMar–May and Jul–Nov
LettuceNov–FebOct–Apr
BroccoliDec–JanNov–Feb
StrawberryDec–JanNov–Feb
RoseFeb and Nov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
GerberaFeb and Nov–DecFeb–Apr and Oct–Dec
CarnationDec–JanNov–Feb
ChrysanthemumFeb and Nov–DecFeb–Mar and Oct–Dec
AnthuriumOctMar–May and Jul–Oct
OrchidsOctMar–May and Jul–Oct
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 Murliganj

Selling your harvest in and around Murliganj

29,000People in Murliganj (GeoNames)[1]
₹5,165Spending per person per month, urban Bihar, 2023–24[6]
390 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 Murliganj may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Saharsa, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.

Polyhouse farming in Murliganj with Kryzen

We have built 2 projects in Bihar so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Murliganj is about 1,370 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Murliganj

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

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 Murliganj: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Murliganj?

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

Which polyhouse is best for Murliganj?

With May highs of about 39°C and 47% 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 Murliganj?

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

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Murliganj?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Murliganj, capsicum and cucumber 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 Murliganj?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,370 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 Murliganj 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 · Murliganj (community development block) (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)