Dutch bank helps WayCool
FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, has allocated a grant of U$114,000 to Chennai-based WayCool Foods, for procurement and distribution of dual-purpose Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and enablement of on-site Soil testing to farmers.
It follows WayCool’s latest Debt Financing round of U$5.5 million which was guaranteed by the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
The distribution is being carried out under the Outgrow Program, WayCool’s flagship program for farmers.
A total of 15,000 smallholding farmers across 5 states in India will benefit through this unique initiative, said WayCool in a release on 20 Aug 2020.
The dual-purpose PPE kits will help protect farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also shield them during agricultural operations such as pesticide spraying. In-situ Soil testing will enable farmers to get their soil health measured without having to travel, thus facilitating effective soil management while maintaining social distancing.
Outgrow is WayCool’s agricultural extension program that engages with farmers through their entire cultivation cycle, from planning to inputs to harvesting, substantially increasing the profitability of the farmer, reducing their risk, and guaranteeing farmers 270 days of steady income by leveraging a host of emerging technologies.
WayCool has been leading efforts to help the Indian farmers cope with the current crisis, through various channels. Most recently, the company had run a crowdfunding campaign for PPE kits through Milaap. It had also driven an awareness campaign showcasing the efforts of the farmer & trucker (the invisible hands in the Agri supply chain). The FMO grant helps WayCool build upon this effort.
“Farmers are essential service providers as they feed the nation. They are also very vulnerable during disruptive events such as the ongoing pandemic,” said Sendhil Kumar Natarajan, Head-Agri initiatives, WayCool Foods.
“Our measures have focused on enabling the farmers to earn their livelihood while reducing the risks they face. The FMO grant will help us in protecting a significantly larger number of farmers and we thank FMO for their timely support,” he said.
FMO’s grant demonstrates its commitment to supporting communities that require India’s food and agriculture distribution sector.
“We are proud to offer additional support during this period. India has experienced one of the world’s strictest lockdowns. These measures left little recourse for the country’s millions of farmers, particularly those in the poorest provinces, who were unable to get access to essentials and protective equipment,” noted Jaap Reinking, Director, Private Equity, FMO.
“The initiative’s goal is to find affordable and reliable sources of PPE and ensure these are allocated where they are needed most. Additionally, this grant will be used to procure Soil Testing kits for farmers, which will ultimately improve their income and reduce wastage.”
WayCool procures, processes, and distributes a range of food products including fresh produce, staples, and dairy products, moving over 250 tonnes of food every day to 11,000 clients across South India.
The company operates a soil-to-sale model, engaging deeply with a base of 40,000 farmers in more than 50 regions across India while bringing efficiency through its direct supply chain model.
The Company plans to accelerate profitability and improve on its capital-efficient model by continuing to invest in technology and automation across the value chain.
WayCool has previously raised three rounds of funding from Lightbox, LGT Lightstone Aspada, FMO, Caspian Impact Investment, and Northern Arc Capital Ltd.
FMO is the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank based out of The Hague. FMO invests in over 85 countries, focusing on emerging markets, supp orting jobs and income generation, and improving people’s lives in those parts of the world where this makes the biggest difference. Their role extends beyond financing, as they help businesses to operate and grow transparently in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
WayCool Foods, founded in July 2015 by Sanjay Dasari and Karthik Jayaraman, is India’s fastest-growing food development & distribution platform leveraging innovative technology to scale-up and operate a complex supply chain.
The company operates a full-stack, broadline product range across multiple channels and categories like fresh produce, staples and dairy serving over 11,000 clients in the general trade, modern trade, and food services space. #agri #farmers #aid #funds #finance #banks /fiinews.com
