News Finances

South Africa’s Nile.ag raises $11.2 million to grow digital farming services

South Africa’s Nile.ag raises $11.2 million to grow digital farming services
Friday, 13 June 2025 14:01

• Nile.ag secures $11.2 million in equity funding led by Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund
• Capital to expand digital agriculture tools and financing options for southern Africa
• Nile.ag traded 225,000 tons of produce in 2024 and offers over 100 product categories

South African agtech platform Nile.ag has raised 200 million rand (about $11.2 million) to expand its digital agriculture services and scale across southern Africa. The equity funding round, announced on Thursday, June 12, 2025, was led by the Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund (CAIF) with participation from the Dutch development bank FMO and Platform Investment Partners.

The capital will support the growth of Nile.ag’s online platform, which enables farmers to trade fresh produce, access inputs, and connect with financing solutions. The company plans to enhance its e-commerce offering for agricultural supplies and launch new financial products developed in partnership with local banks, aimed at improving farmers’ access to markets, credit, and farm inputs.

Founded in 2021 by Eugene Roodt and Louis de Kock, Nile.ag helps South African farmers sell directly to buyers, including those in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In 2024, the platform handled trades totaling about 225,000 tons of agricultural products. Nile.ag now offers a wide range of services, from seed and fertilizer procurement to post-harvest equipment supply and full-cycle crop management.

The company lists over 100 fresh product categories and aims to simplify agricultural trade in South Africa and the region. For AfricInvest, backing Nile.ag is part of a broader strategy to support platforms that bring structure and efficiency to agricultural markets. “Nile.ag delivers integrated tools to address farmers’ procurement, sales, and financing challenges,” said Henry Rahmann, investment manager at AfricInvest. “We’re proud to back Nile’s exceptional team (…) as they build an agri-tech champion, uplifting farming communities across South Africa and beyond”.

Despite a slow rebound in regional agtech investments, South Africa raised just $1.5 million across four deals in the first half of 2024, placing it 8th among African countries for agritech funding. In contrast, the continent as a whole attracted about $145 million during the same period, according to data from Disrupt Africa and AgFunder.

Still, the sector shows signs of resilience. Development finance institutions are playing a growing role in early-stage funding as traditional venture capital retreats. Smaller, more frequent investment rounds are emerging, particularly in agri-marketing platforms and fintech for farmers—segments that now account for over 40% of sector investments.

On the same topic
• The IMF has approved an immediate disbursement of $367 million to Ghana, bringing the total financial support provided to the country since May...
Zenith Bank is in advanced talks to acquire a tier-two bank in Kenya. The Central Bank of Kenya has raised capital requirements, triggering market...
• DPI acquires minority stake in Egypt’s largest private hospital group• Funds to support expansion across Egypt and key Gulf countries• Investment among...
WAEMU states collectively raised nearly 7,000 billion CFA francs in the first half of 2025, a record amount driven by increased financing needs, the...
Most Read
01

• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...

Coffee: Global Consumption Expected to Reach Record Level in 2025/2026
02

• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo...

Algeria Awards Commercial 5G Licenses
03

• Investors seem to keep focusing on yields, which are high for the moment• New Leadership might see...

Afreximbank Bonds Retain Market Confidence Despite Moody’s Downgrade
04

• Kenyan President William Ruto signs strategic partnership with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to b...

William Ruto in London: New Agreement Aims to Double Kenya-UK Trade by 2030
05

• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector cou...

IFC Plans Investment Fund to Help Grow African Film Industry
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.