Mogale Maleka uses his tech skills to increase food production in South Africa without increasing the use of water, electricity or land.
“We’ve been doing this for eight years, but we only broke the market in 2024. It is a matter of patience—that’s when the product was ready.”
Tell us about yourself.
I’m Mogale Maleka, co-founder of AB Farms, an agritech company launched in 2017. We design, manufacture, and install vertical hydroponic systems. I’m a mechanical engineer from Limpopo, now based in Gauteng.
Tell us more about your product.
Hydroponics allows farmers to grow more food without increasing water, electricity, or land use. We developed a pipe system tailored for African conditions.
Why agriculture?
I come from a farming background. Agriculture is the backbone of any economy. Without food, there’s no productivity.
Who supported you early on?
My family supported me financially and emotionally. Institutions like the University of Johannesburg, Water Research Commission, and Gauteng Department of Agriculture helped with funding and research.
What challenges did you face?
Access to finance, markets, and expertise. We only broke into the market in 2024, after years of refining the product. Today, we employ 15 people full-time.