DeHaat is a technology-based startup that provides services from seeds to markets to small farmers in the eastern and central regions of the country. It aims to expand its reach to the western and southern parts of the country over the next year.
Shashank Kumar (co-founder and CEO of DeHaat) stated that the company has established links with approximately 7 lakh smallholder farmers in Bihar. Jharkhand. Odisha. West Bengal. Odisha. Uttar Pradesh. Rajasthan. Madhya Pradesh.
Kumar stated to FE that the company will increase its network among farmers in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh over the next year. Beejse Baazar Tak is a service that caters to smallholder farmers.
DeHaat centres combine more than 30 agricultural crops (cereals, fruits, and vegetables) from farmers in their network. They then supply it directly to over 600 bulk buyers including retailers chains, FMCG giants, food processors, and e-commerce players. The company holds trading licenses in the agricultural produce market committee markets (APMC). It also offers financial services to farmers.
DeHaat farmers have access to over 3,000 agricultural inputs like seed, fertilisers, and pesticides. They also receive an artificial intelligence (AI-based) customised crop advisory for pest and disease management via a mobile application and call centers.
The company facilitates transactions worth between 150 and 160 crore per month through its platform.
Kumar stated that farmers can save between 8% and 12% on the cost of fertilizer, pesticides, and seed when they buy through Dehaat. DeHaat helps farmers save on transport costs by allowing them to buy high-quality agricultural inputs close to their farms.
The satellite-based crop advice from farmers is free of charge. DeHaat, a Maharashtra-based B2B Agri-Input Marketing Start-up Helicrofter, announced Friday that it had acquired the company. Helicrofter has over 2,000 sellers and more than 30 retailers.
In October 2021, DeHaat raised $ 115million from investors led By Sofina & Lightrock. Another start-up was also acquired by DeHaat, FarmGuide. This allowed it to offer farmers satellite-based crop advice solutions. Investors such as Sequoia Capital India and RTP Global support DeHaat, as well as Omnivore, Omnivore, Prosus Ventures and Sequoia Capital India.
There are between 600 and 700 agritech start ups in the country using technologies like machine learning, AI, and internet of things to provide services to farmers.
More about DeHaat’s success, the stat-up raises $115 Million in India\’s largest agritech round
DeHaat has raised $115 Million in its largest funding round to date for an Indian agritech start-up. The online platform offers full-stack services to farmers in India. India\’s agricultural produce is responsible for nearly two-thirds India’s annual retail spending of $1 trillion.
Lightrock, Sofina, and Lightrock led the Series D financing round for the startup that has been around since 2010. Temasek was joined by existing investors Prosus Ventures. Sequoia Capital India. Sequoia Capital India. FMO participated in the new round. The total amount raised is $161 million. ($157 million has been made in the last 30 days).
DeHaat – Hindi for village – addresses three of India\’s greatest challenges to farmers: working capital, finding buyers and securing agritech inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. Only around a third the yield Indian farmers produce gets to the big market.
Gurgaon-based startup Patna has brought together brands that offer agri-input products and institutional financers to create one platform. It also works closely with microentrepreneurs, more than 3000 of them, to provide delivery and last-mile coordination.
The startup has an online helpline that can be used to connect with farmers.
Yana Kachurina principal at Sofina said in a statement, \”The uniqueness and the \’phygital \’go-to-market\’ strategy further reaffirmed that our view that this company is on track for becoming a significant player the farming industry of India.\”
DeHaat reported that it has served over 650,000 farmers from Odisha, UP, Jharkhand, and Jharkhand. It has over 850 unique agribusinesses listed on its platform.
ABOUT AUTHOR
