iFarmer secures $1.5m foreign funding to strengthen agri value chain
Bangladesh-based agri-tech startup iFarmer has secured $1.5 million in foreign funding as it aims to strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain.
The funding comes from Symbiotics, a Switzerland-based market access platform for impact investing, according to a statement.
The investment will support iFarmer’s working capital requirements, enabling it to expand agricultural input distribution and strengthen market linkages for farmers across Bangladesh.
iFarmer said the investment marks another important milestone, as international investors continue to back technology-driven agricultural platforms that improve efficiency, transparency, and access to financing in emerging markets.
Bangladesh’s agriculture sector employs nearly 40 percent of the workforce and contributes significantly to the national economy, supporting around 25 million farmers across 17 million farms and accounting for about 12 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, farmers continue to face challenges related to financing, input quality, and market access.
iFarmer is addressing these challenges by building an integrated agricultural platform that connects farmers, retailers, suppliers, and institutional buyers through financing, digital advisory, input supply, and output market linkages.
With this new financing from Symbiotics, iFarmer will expand its agri-input distribution platform, KriShop, and strengthen its supply chain operations to ensure farmers have access to quality inputs and reliable market access for their produce, according to the statement.
The funding will also support iFarmer’s broader platform operations that connect farmers directly with large buyers, improving efficiency across the agricultural value chain.
Founded in 2019, iFarmer has grown into one of Bangladesh’s leading agri-fintech platforms, currently working with over 300,000 farmers and 24,000 agricultural retailers across the country.
The company combines embedded finance, digital advisory, input supply, and market linkage services into a single platform designed to increase farmers’ income and improve agricultural productivity.
Fahad Ifaz, co-founder and CEO of iFarmer, said, “This partnership with Symbiotics is an important step in our journey to build the digital and financial infrastructure for agriculture in Bangladesh.”
“Access to working capital is critical for scaling agricultural supply chains. With this investment, we will be able to expand our operations, reach more farmers and retailers, and strengthen market linkages across the agricultural ecosystem.”
“We believe this is just the beginning, and we look forward to working with more global partners who want to invest in building the future of agriculture in emerging markets.”
Aldric Luyt, head of fintech at Symbiotics, said, “This investment reflects our commitment to supporting underserved agricultural communities in Bangladesh. iFarmer’s innovative model improves supply chain efficiency and expands economic opportunities. Our investment will help scale their impact, contributing to more resilient and sustainable food systems.”
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