Planning polyhouse farming in Purulia? Purulia is a mid-sized city in Purulia district, West Bengal, home to about 1.2 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 220 km from Kolkata. Below we use the town's monthly temperatures, humidity and rainfall to work out which structure fits, which crops to grow and in which months, before you spend on construction.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Purulia
May is the hottest month in Purulia, with average daily highs of about 40°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 9°C.[2] The area gets about 1,391 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 345 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Purulia sits about 227 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Purulia falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Purulia climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
23.1
8.5
61
13
Feb
27.9
12.4
52
14
Mar
33.8
17.6
41
21
Apr
39.2
22.9
38
38
May
39.8
25.6
48
90
Jun
35.8
26.2
66
219
Jul
31.3
24.8
84
345
Aug
30.2
24.4
88
312
Sep
29.7
23.6
88
234
Oct
28.6
20.0
81
90
Nov
25.9
14.3
73
7
Dec
22.9
9.7
68
8
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Purulia. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Purulia
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for 10 months a year in Purulia, 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 345 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 October), 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 Purulia?
For polyhouse farming in Purulia, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Purulia comes with dry air. In April to May, average highs reach 40°C while average humidity is only about 43%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 40°C May 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. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from February and August to November and costs less to run.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 345 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.3 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 to March and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Purulia
Based on Purulia's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (10 months), chilli pepper (10 months) and tomato (9 months). Capsicum fits February to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Purulia.
Months each crop suits in Purulia
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Aug–Nov
Feb–Nov
Tomato
Feb and Aug–Dec
Feb–Apr and Jul–Dec
Cucumber
Mar and Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb and Jul–Nov
Feb–Nov
Brinjal
Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Lettuce
Nov–Feb
Aug–Apr
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Rose
Feb and Nov–Dec
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Gerbera
Feb and Nov–Dec
Feb–Apr and Oct–Dec
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Feb and Nov–Dec
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Anthurium
Sep–Oct
Mar–Apr and Jun–Oct
Orchids
Sep–Oct
Mar–Apr and Jun–Oct
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]
220 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)
The Census counted 1.1 lakh people in Purulia in 2001 and 1.2 lakh in 2011, a rise of 6%.[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 Purulia may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Bokaro Steel City, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Kolkata is within a day's delivery, about 220 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Purulia with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Purulia is about 1,200 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Purulia
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Purulia:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Purulia: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Purulia?
Yes, with the right structure. For Purulia we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to July, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Purulia?
With May highs of about 40°C and 48% 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 Purulia?
Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, chilli pepper and tomato have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Purulia?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Purulia, capsicum 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 Purulia?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,200 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 Purulia 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.
