Dealflow | October 1, 2018

Origo raises $11 million to finance Indian agribusinesses

Jessica Pothering
ImpactAlpha Editor

Jessica Pothering

ImpactAlpha, October 1 – Origo Commodities, a Gurgaon-based lender, offers financing to small businesses in India’s agriculture sector. The company provides “post-harvest” loans to farmers, processors, buyers, and warehouse owners for specific needs like procurement as well as general small business loans.

Origo, which launched in 2010, operates in 12 Indian states and serves about 3,500 clients, including 1,400 farmers. It has about $1.4 billion in assets under management.

Its first round of investment capital was backed by Dutch impact organizations Oikocredit, Hivos and Triodos, and Hyderabad-based Caspian. Hivos and Triodos invested via their joint fund. The financing was arranged by Unitus Capital.

The funding round comes at a time when startups and lending institutions are successfully raising capital to help India’s small farmers establish market linkages and secure loans to buy agricultural supplies and equipment. Origo is unique for its focus on the agricultural value chain, specifically post-harvest, when financing options are limited.