Nodes Digital, a Bangladeshi agri-tech startup, has received a €40,000 innovation grant from the Government of the Netherlands to expand a smart irrigation system that helps farmers save water and grow more food. Backed by the Orange Corners Innovation Fund, the award recognizes the company’s IoT-based soil and water monitoring tools and the use of AI to turn sensor readings into clear, useful advice for farmers. The system uses small field sensors to check soil moisture, water flow and local weather, then sends simple recommendations to farmers so they water crops only when needed. Company leaders say this approach can cut water use by up to thirty percent, which could save thousands of liters for each kilogram of rice produced under trial conditions, and that using less water also lowers costs for farmers. The grant will help Nodes Digital scale pilot projects, improve AI models and provide hands-on training for farmers and farm workers so they can use the new tools with confidence. Officials from the Netherlands Embassy presented the award in Dhaka, and the company highlighted how the grant will speed up plans to reach more growing areas and more farming families across the country. By combining sensors, cloud processing and easy phone alerts, the startup aims to make modern data tools simple and affordable for small farms that make up much of the country’s food supply. Local technicians will be trained to install and maintain devices, creating new jobs and helping farmers trust and adopt the technology. Project leaders also plan to work with local partners, extension services and buyers so that better water use links to higher yields and stronger market access for farmers. Nodes Digital says that smarter irrigation can support food security by helping farmers use inputs more efficiently while protecting scarce water resources and reducing pressure on local rivers and groundwater. Farmers who tested the system in pilot plots reported easier daily work, clearer decisions about watering and fewer wasted hours checking fields by hand. The company’s focus on simple, low-cost sensors and practical training is designed to fit the realities of smallholder farms, where high-tech solutions must be rugged, low maintenance and easy to understand. With this funding, Nodes Digital plans to expand trials, measure results in more locations, and refine its AI so advice suits different soils and crops. Observers say supporting home-grown technology that keeps data local and helps farmers directly can strengthen rural livelihoods and make agriculture more resilient to changing weather. The grant marks a clear vote of confidence in a local team that is using technology to solve real problems for farmers while helping conserve water for the whole country and reduce costs for consumers nationwide over time.
