GrowUp Agrotech: Driving ethical investment to empower rural farming

Staff Reporter:
As rural Bangladesh stands at the brink of a digital farming revolution, GrowUp Agrotech is leading the charge redefining how ethical capital meets agricultural need.

More than a tech solution, GrowUp is a values-driven ecosystem that unites Shariah-compliant finance with hands-on rural development, transforming farming livelihoods while delivering transparent, purpose-aligned returns to investors.

Unlike conventional agritech startups that prioritize scale over substance, GrowUp Agrotech operates as an arm of the Rural Organisations for Social Advancement (ROSA) a respected NGO with more than 30 years of grassroots engagement.

This unique foundation has enabled GrowUp to build organic trust with farming communities, ensuring deeper, more sustainable partnerships.

With dual operational hubs in Bogura, a major agricultural belt, and Dhaka, the country’s financial nerve center, GrowUp efficiently bridges urban and expatriate capital with rural productivity.

As of mid-2025, the platform has facilitated over Tk 110 crore in investments into diversified agro-projects, including onion farming, poultry rearing, aquaculture, and dairy initiatives.

“All investments are executed under Shariah-compliant contracts such as Mudaraba and Murabaha,” notes Mufti Mohibullah, a senior member of GrowUp’s Shariah Supervisory Board.

“We rigorously audit each step to ensure every transaction aligns with Islamic finance principles.”

This ethical foundation appeals strongly to diaspora investors like Ahmed Khan, a Bangladeshi entrepreneur based in Dubai. “I’ve invested in six GrowUp ventures so far,” he says. “The returns are consistent, and more importantly, my money contributes directly to uplifting rural livelihoods.”

The results speak volumes. GrowUp has so far impacted over 12,000 farmers, with beneficiaries reporting an average 30–35percent increase in yields due to timely access to quality inputs, training, and finance. Additionally, farmer income levels have risen by up to 40percent in some regions, according to internal monitoring reports.

GrowUp’s dual-sided digital platform plays a critical role in delivering this impact. Its intuitive mobile app and web portal allow investors to explore curated agricultural ventures, track performance in real time, and manage payouts. On the flip side, farmers use the platform to register plots or livestock, order verified seeds and feed, and receive tailored agronomic guidance—both online and via 180+ field officers nationwide.

“Most of our farmers were previously caught in cycles of credit dependency and price exploitation,” says Dr. Nasreen Akhter, Head of Field Operations. “We’ve flipped that dynamic—turning subsistence farmers into productive entrepreneurs.”

Looking ahead, GrowUp plans to onboard 25,000 new investors and 20,000 additional farmers by the end of 2025, reinforcing its position as Bangladesh’s leading platform for sustainable and Shariah-aligned agricultural investment.

As dawn breaks over the country’s fertile fields, GrowUp Agrotech continues to cultivate more than crops—it is sowing the seeds of lasting rural prosperity.