Makaziwe Mahlangu

A South African tech entrepreneur who revolutionized agricultural practices through mobile technology.

Makaziwe Mahlangu is a visionary South African entrepreneur best known for founding M-Farm in 2010. Her work has profoundly impacted small-scale farmers across Africa by leveraging mobile technology to bridge the gap between producers and markets. Born in rural South Africa, Mahlangu witnessed firsthand the challenges farmers faced in accessing fair prices, market information, and resources. Determined to address these issues, she developed M-Farm, a platform that connects farmers via SMS and mobile apps to real-time market data, weather updates, and agricultural advice. By 2015, M-Farm had reached over 50,000 farmers, increasing their incomes by an average of 30%. Mahlangu's approach not only improved economic stability but also empowered marginalized communities through technology. Her innovation inspired similar ventures across the continent, such as Kenya’s Twiga Foods and Nigeria’s AgroSpaces. Beyond her technical contributions, Mahlangu advocates for gender equality in tech, co-founding the TechWomen Africa initiative. Her TED Talk 'How Mobile Tech Can Feed Africa' (2018) further popularized her mission. Critics initially doubted the scalability of SMS-based solutions, but Mahlangu’s persistence proved that even simple technologies could drive systemic change. Today, M-Farm operates in 12 African countries, with partnerships extending to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Mahlangu’s legacy lies in demonstrating how localized tech solutions can combat poverty and hunger, earning her recognition as a finalist for the 2020 African Woman of the Year award.