Key Takeaways:
- Strategic Funding: BharatRohan secures $2.3 million in a blend of debt and equity financing from notable investors.
- Technological Impact: The company supports sustainable farming with its advanced drone-based hyperspectral remote sensing technology.
- Expansion Goals: Plans to extend operations to 15 Indian states, covering 1 million acres by 2025.
- Support for Sustainable Farming: Focuses on developing technologies for residue-free crop cultivation and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
- Investor Confidence: Investors express strong support for BharatRohan’s technology-driven approach to optimizing agriculture.
Funding Announcement and Technological Developments
BharatRohan, an agtech firm specializing in drone-based hyperspectral remote sensing, announced a successful $2.3 million pre-IPO funding round. This round includes investments from Villgro Innovation Foundation, Caspian, RevX, and Venture Garage, along with contributions from a group of Ultra High Net Worth Individuals. This funding is a strategic mix of debt and equity financing aimed at advancing the company’s technological capabilities and market reach.
Technological Contributions to Agriculture
Founded in 2016 by Rishabh Choudhary and Amandeep Panwar, BharatRohan has implemented its Drone-based Decision Support System (DSS), BharatRohan® CropAssure®, across 200,000 acres affecting 50,000 farmers in five states. This system is designed to identify early signs of diseases, pests, and nutritional deficiencies, enabling farmers to implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for residue-free cultivation.
“The technologies we are developing are crucial for providing real-time, data-driven insights that help optimize resource allocation and enhance crop resilience against unpredictable weather patterns,” stated Amandeep Panwar, co-founder of BharatRohan.
With the newly acquired funds, BharatRohan is focused on developing proprietary edge computing drones for precise crop monitoring and variable pesticide application. These innovations are expected to be made available through franchise-based models to rural entrepreneurs, who will offer CropAssure® Services to local farmers.
Expansion and Global Reach
BharatRohan’s expansion plans are ambitious, targeting an increase in operational scope to cover 1 million acres across 15 states by 2025. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to increase the company’s impact on India’s agricultural sector and introduce pesticide residue-free farm produce to global markets.
“We are on a path to not only expand our reach but also to introduce our sustainable, pesticide residue-free farm produce to global consumers, thereby enhancing our impact on a global scale,” commented Rishabh Choudhary, co-founder of BharatRohan.
Investor Perspectives
Vivek Kumar, founder at Venture Garage, remarked, “BharatRohan is uniquely positioned using the latest technology to solve one of the oldest problems—continuously optimizing farming and bridging farmers to the most profitable markets. We strongly feel that BharatRohan is on track to not only build a company championing sustainable and scalable agriculture but also to deliver great returns for their investors.”
Sibadittya Baidya, AVP-Investments at RevX Capital, added, “BharatRohan is well-positioned to spearhead the transformation of agriculture through cutting-edge drone technology. We are pleased to partner with them to provide customized solutions that address their unique working capital needs and support their long-term growth.”
BharatRohan Latest News
Forge Partnership With AgHub (2024/02/28)
BharatRohan has partnered with AgHub, the Agri-innovation hub of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), to enhance crop monitoring and management. The partnership will leverage BharatRohan’s hyperspectral imaging technology to build a spectral library for better pest and disease detection in key crops such as paddy and cotton, potentially increasing yields by 20-30%. This collaboration is expected to set a new standard in early detection and precise intervention, employing advanced hyperspectral imaging and drone technology for efficient crop management. Both organizations are committed to broadening their focus to include a wider variety of crops in the future.
BharatRohan and ESCAP Partnership: Transforming Agriculture in Telangana and Haryana (2023/11/21)
BharatRohan has partnered with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) for a strategic collaboration to revolutionize agricultural methods in the states of Telangana and Haryana. This initiative aims to foster sustainable crop production and empower smallholder farmers, with a focus on gender-inclusive agricultural practices. BharatRohan will leverage ESCAP’s support to access international markets, provide training to farmers, and navigate regulatory challenges.
BharatRohan Partners with ABI-ICRISAT (2023/10/17)
BharatRohan and ABI-ICRISAT have formed a strategic partnership to revolutionize agricultural technology, specifically in crop monitoring through hyperspectral technology. The alliance provides networking opportunities and support for BharatRohan, including access to state-of-the-art facilities and expert branding counsel. The partnership will focus on R&D in hyperspectral data-driven solutions, allowing for early detection of crop issues and precision farming.
BharatRohan and Kosher Climate Partner (2023/08/29)
BharatRohan and Kosher Climate have joined forces to tackle environmental and economic challenges faced by farmers, mainly small-scale rice growers. They aim to transform rice cultivation using the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method, which can reduce irrigation water consumption by up to 30% and cut methane emissions by up to 48%. The collaborative project, set to launch on an initial 12,000 acres, envisions a more sustainable future for agriculture.
BharatRohan Partners with Smart Village Movement to Boost Ginger Farming in Meghalaya (2023/08/08)
BharatRohan has partnered with Smart Village Movement and NASSCOM ‘Center of Excellence for IoT & AI’ to equip farmers with cutting-edge precision agriculture methodologies. The collaboration will integrate UAV drones fitted with hyperspectral, multispectral, and thermal sensors to offer specific, actionable advice, supply top-tier agri-inputs, and champion sustainable and profitable farming practices. Initially targeting the Ri Bhoi District in Meghalaya, the partnership has broader expansion plans, aiming to extend its services to paddy, turmeric, and pineapple farming clusters in Meghalaya.
1 Comment