Planning polyhouse farming in Silao? Silao is a small town in Nalanda district, Bihar, home to about 26,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 410 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Silao 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 Silao
May is the hottest month in Silao, with average daily highs of about 42°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 8°C.[3] The area gets about 1,014 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 276 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Silao sits about 60 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Silao falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[4]
Silao climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
22.9
8.3
53
12
Feb
28.0
12.1
46
14
Mar
34.4
17.6
34
11
Apr
39.9
23.6
30
15
May
41.6
27.5
37
50
Jun
39.0
28.8
53
156
Jul
33.6
26.4
77
276
Aug
32.1
25.6
83
234
Sep
31.1
24.4
84
184
Oct
29.9
20.4
76
57
Nov
26.7
14.4
67
2
Dec
23.2
9.7
61
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Silao. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Silao
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Silao cucumber can be grown for about 9 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
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 276 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 Bihar can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Silao?
For polyhouse farming in Silao, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Silao comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 42°C while average humidity is only about 40%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 42°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 October to November and costs less to run.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 276 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.4 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 and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Silao
Based on Silao's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (9 months), chilli pepper (9 months) and capsicum (8 months). Cucumber fits March to November with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Silao.
Months each crop suits in Silao
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Oct–Nov
Feb–Apr and Jul–Nov
Tomato
Feb and Oct–Dec
Feb–Apr and Sep–Dec
Cucumber
Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb and Aug–Nov
Feb–May and Jul–Nov
Brinjal
Aug–Nov
Mar–May and Jul–Nov
Lettuce
Nov–Feb
Sep–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–Mar and Oct–Dec
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Feb
Chrysanthemum
Feb and Nov–Dec
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Anthurium
Oct
Mar–May and Jul–Oct
Orchids
Oct
Mar–May and Jul–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.
₹5,165Spending per person per month, urban Bihar, 2023–24[6]
410 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 Silao may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Bihar Sharif, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Silao with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Bihar so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Silao is about 1,190 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Silao
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Silao:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Silao: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Silao?
Yes, with the right structure. For Silao we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to August, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Silao?
With May highs of about 42°C and 37% 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 Silao?
Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and capsicum have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Silao?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Silao, 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 Silao?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,190 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 Silao 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.
