New Delhi, Feb. 28 -- About a fourth of the 70-100 active startups focused on agricultural water management and treatment are at risk of shutting down due to a lack of funding, according to experts.

The potential closure of these so-called AgWaterTech startups could slow down innovation in irrigation, delaying the adoption of smart water management technologies crucial for addressing India's agricultural water crisis, they said.

A report titled 'Investment Mismatch in AgWater', prepared by the DCM Shriram Foundation along with The/Nudge Institute, a non-profit organisation working poverty, said almost 20-25% of active AgWaterTech startups are at immediate risk of shutting down. The report warned startup activity in the sector is slowing...