Planning polyhouse farming in Siliguri? Siliguri is a mid-sized city in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, home to about 2.2 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 460 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Siliguri 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 Siliguri
April is the hottest month in Siliguri, with average daily highs of about 35°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 10°C.[2] The area gets about 1,775 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to September, peaking in July at about 474 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Siliguri sits about 400 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Siliguri falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]
Siliguri climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
22.0
10.0
52
6
Feb
26.3
12.9
43
12
Mar
31.8
17.4
34
29
Apr
35.1
21.6
41
70
May
34.8
23.9
58
163
Jun
33.1
25.2
75
278
Jul
30.3
25.0
87
474
Aug
30.1
24.8
88
353
Sep
29.1
23.7
88
291
Oct
27.8
20.5
80
92
Nov
25.4
16.0
70
5
Dec
22.5
11.8
61
2
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Siliguri. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Siliguri
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, tomato can be grown for the whole year in Siliguri, 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 474 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 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 Siliguri?
For polyhouse farming in Siliguri, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in April to June, with moderate humidity of about 58%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 35°C April afternoon down to roughly 27°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, cool enough for lettuce and other leafy greens. 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 474 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 to March and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Siliguri
Based on Siliguri's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are tomato (all year), capsicum (11 months) and chilli pepper (11 months). Tomato fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Siliguri.
Months each crop suits in Siliguri
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Feb and Jul–Dec
Feb–Dec
Tomato
Jul–Feb
All year
Cucumber
Mar and Jun–Nov
Mar–Nov
Chilli pepper
Feb–Mar and Jul–Dec
Feb–Dec
Brinjal
Mar and Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Lettuce
Oct–Feb
Sep–May
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Dec–Feb
Rose
Oct–Feb
Oct–Mar
Gerbera
Oct–Feb
Oct–Apr
Carnation
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Chrysanthemum
Oct–Feb
Oct–Mar
Anthurium
Sep–Nov
Mar–Nov
Orchids
Sep–Nov
Mar–Nov
Lilium
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
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]
460 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] Siliguri 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 Siliguri with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Siliguri is about 1,540 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Siliguri
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Siliguri:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Siliguri: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Siliguri?
Yes, with the right structure. For Siliguri 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 June to August, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Siliguri?
With April highs of about 35°C and 41% 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 Siliguri?
Going by the monthly climate, tomato, capsicum and chilli pepper have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Siliguri?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Siliguri, tomato 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 Siliguri?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,540 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 Siliguri 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.
