iGrow Makes It Easy for People to Invest in Agriculture

Imagine the game Farmville in real life. That's how the iGrow platform works. iGrow allows people to be able to farm without having to own land or the ability to grow crops. Through dashboard developed, a choice of seeds and land that can be used as an investment for planting is presented. iGrow works directly with farmers and landowners. The system will accommodate Tree Ownership Certificate (SKP) for its users. In general, iGrow refers to this service as Productive Plantation Ownership (KKP).

The user registers, chooses land and trees, then invests some money for the farming process, the land is cultivated and when the harvest is immediately sold. The sales proceeds are divided by the percentage of 40 percent for service users, 40 percent for garden management partners, and 20 percent for iGrow. This is how the transparent iGrow system works. Currently 4 large lands are owned in Java and Bali, and iGrow is also seeking cooperation with land owners. Because according to iGrow the minimum land must be more than 1000 hectares for the business to run effectively.

iGrow was initiated by the Startup Center and Badr Interactive. In an interview session with DailySocial, Andika Amri as the portal developer and the core team of iGrow said that this service has a vision to preserve life.

They focus on cultivating vacant land so that farmers who work on land can live more prosperously, because farmers who are registered as iGrow partners will be paid a monthly salary, Amri said the minimum salary for farmers is 3 million Rupiah per month. This is to foster enthusiasm and a sense of ownership of the plants and land they cultivate.

Currently there are more than 800 users who have invested in iGrow. To maximize the quality is currently also being limited order, because it is working on developing platforms and resources in the field. To ensure the plants invested by harvest users are successful, apart from the approach to the welfare of farmers, the iGrow team also has strategic partners in agriculture to ensure that the planting and harvesting processes are carried out correctly.

Interestingly, many companies buy immediately when the gardens have started to harvest, such as peanuts that are directly purchased by GarudaFood, fruit products by Carrefour, and so on.

Currently iGrow is also developing the Production Academy Hall, to maximize return on investment from users, namely by maximizing the processing of agricultural waste. Including managing the results or processed skin of certain fruits into fertilizer or others. Through this center, it is certain that various components of agricultural products will be able to have economic value. The iGrow team always emphasizes that its main mission is not just to become a commercial business portal, but really to grow agriculture in Indonesia, and public awareness of the importance of local agricultural ecosystems.

iGrow's approach is unique. This is proven by Amri's story while doing pitching at Startup Istanbul Turkey. He told that of the 100 startups that became finalists, iGrow was the only one that was engaged in agribusiness and received extraordinary attention. Although there are currently no official investors supporting iGrow's funding, Amri said that at least to expand his business and vision throughout Indonesia iGrow requires an investment of $3 million. It is currently open to investors who are eager to support their business.

Not only to buy plants and land, iGrow also provides dashboards for monitoring agricultural products that provide information real-time the trees being planted, the condition of the land, to how much carbon dioxide (CO2) has been absorbed by it.

Indonesia needs a lot of startups like this. As a fertile country, Indonesia's agricultural potential must be maximized. iGrow as a liaison and channel for investment in agriculture is a good start for innovation in agriculture that must be continuously optimized.

iGrow also has dreams. When he succeeds in Indonesia, he will make his movement worldwide. Inviting people around the world to farm, prospering the world community with abundant food availability.