Staff Reporter : Nodes Digital Limited, a pioneering agri-tech startup in Bangladesh, has been awarded a €40,000 innovation grant by the Government of the Netherlands through the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF). The award recognizes Nodes Digital’s groundbreaking work in IoT-based soil and water monitoring for precision agriculture.
The award was officially handed over by His Excellency Mr. Andre Carstens, Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka, during a special event celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship on July 31.
Nodes Digital stood out among 16 startups under the Orange Corners Bangladesh 2nd Cohort, implemented by YY Ventures. Their smart irrigation system leverages IoT sensors and AI-powered analytics to monitor real-time soil and climate conditions, optimize water use, and improve crop yield—reducing water usage by up to 30% and saving 3,000–5,000 liters of water per kilogram of rice.
“We’re honored to receive this recognition from the Government of the Netherlands,” said Md. Akib Hasan, Co-founder of Nodes Digital.
Md. Akib said, “Our mission is to bring affordable and intelligent irrigation solutions to farmers across Bangladesh. This grant empowers us to scale our technology and help farmers increase productivity while conserving water.”
With this support, Nodes Digital plans to expand pilot projects, refine its AI models, and onboard more farmers to smart agriculture methods—contributing directly to climate resilience, sustainable farming, and food security in the region.