Investment of NPR 2 Crore in KHETI through Aadhyanta Promises to Unlock Finance for Thousands of Smallholder Farmers in Nepal

Aadhyanta, a leading private equity and venture capital (PEVC) firm, has invested NPR 2 Crore (20 million Nepalese rupees) into DV Excellus, an innovative agri-fintech company. This funding will further empower smallholder farmers across Nepal through DV Excellus’s flagship platform, KHETI, with collateral-free loans of up to NPR 200,000 from NMB Bank, which is committed to sustainability and smallholder growth. The KHETI app is a one-stop solution that empowers farmers by providing access to agricultural services and financial products, enabling them to purchase quality inputs and transition to commercial farming.

The investment marks a milestone achievement for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) programme implemented by Swisscontact in Nepal, which has been a catalyst for attracting PEVC investments into high-impact agribusinesses. DV Excellus’s platform KHETI was showcased during the Investment Tourism event organized by CASA in December 2022, where PEVC firms and agribusinesses engaged in a transformative dialogue. Since then, CASA has been working with DV Excellus to provide tailored technical assistance to make it investment-ready.

“As a facilitator, CASA plays a crucial role in connecting diverse agribusinesses with the right investment partners, including banks and PEVC firms, to secure vital investments,” said Manish Bikram Shah, CASA Country Intervention Manager. “This collaboration with DV Excellus and its KHETI platform highlights how strategic investments can unlock growth and innovation in Nepal’s agriculture, empowering smallholder farmers and fostering long-term economic resilience for rural communities.”

A Critical Step for Nepal’s Agriculture

Agriculture contributes nearly 30% to Nepal’s GDP, yet it faces numerous challenges, with many farmers struggling to access affordable financing and quality inputs. Agri-fintech platforms like KHETI, which offer collateral-free financing, can play a crucial role in bridging this gap and supporting farmers in overcoming these barriers.

“Supporting agribusinesses like DV Excellus is in line with our commitment to strengthening Nepal’s agricultural ecosystem,” said Manoj Poudel, Managing Director of Aadhyanta. “The innovative solutions they’re developing to address critical challenges—such as improving access to collateral-free financing—are crucial, given the sector’s need for reform and its potential for leapfrog opportunities. We invested because we believe in the company’s high growth potential and the team’s long-standing commitment, skills, and vision.”

“Our partnership with Aadhyanta is a game-changer,” said Tulsi Giri, Co-founder of DV Excellus. “Through KHETI, we are bridging the financial gap for thousands of smallholder farmers, empowering them to invest in better tools, seeds, and fertilizers. We’ve already disbursed NPR 15 Crore in loans to over 1,000 farmers via the KHETI platform and currently support 15,000 active farmers. This funding will significantly accelerate our mission to transform smallholder farming into a thriving commercial enterprise in Nepal.”

Transforming Smallholder Farming 

The NPR 2 Cr investment will directly impact smallholder farmers, enabling them to access collateral-free loans up to NPR 200,000, improve productivity through quality inputs and technology, and transition from subsistence to commercial farming, boosting incomes and resilience.

The partnership among Aadhyanta, DV Excellus, and CASA highlights how targeted investments and capacity-building efforts can unlock the immense potential of Nepal’s agriculture sector. It underscores the critical role of PEVC in bridging the funding gap in financial institutions, while also providing ongoing, tailored support. As Nepal continues to develop its agri-fintech landscape, initiatives like this are poised to drive growth in the challenging agricultural sector, offering new hope for smallholder farmers working towards a better future.