Commercial poultry farmer Lerato Aliu, CEO of Roadgrass Investments, turned personal loss into leadership. In this episode of Farmer Mentor, she shares her story of blending tradition with AI innovation, running one of SA’s leading broiler enterprises while empowering local youth.
At the heart of Roadgrass Investments’ operations is Aliu’s distinctive ethos of care, ensuring that the chickens “eat like royalty, drink like influencers, stay warm like they live in Dubai,” and enjoy a safe, stress-free environment every day.
Roadgrass investments began in 2007 as a family venture established in Katboschfontein, Mpumalanga, by Aliu’s parents, Ashley and Molelekeng Mabogoane. Her brother, Thabang, later joined after studying agriculture, contributing the technical knowledge that strengthened the farm’s foundation.
Despite this agricultural lineage, Aliu admits that she was initially the family outlier: “I was the black sheep. I was a vegetarian in a family that dealt with meat.”
She explored various industries, hospitality, dance, PR and marketing, gaining skills that later proved invaluable. In 2020, everything shifted when her father insisted she join the family enterprise.
“In 2020, my dad said, ‘Enough of the buffoonery. You either join the family business, or we cut you off’.”
A single boerewors roll crafted by her brother ended her vegetarian years and marked her transition into farming.
Stepping into leadership through loss
Aliu’s journey to the CEO role is rooted in profound personal tragedy. “My brother was murdered in 2022, and my dad then passed away from cancer in 2023,” Aliu shares.
The board nominated her as CEO soon after. Though reluctant, she recognised the responsibility to continue her family’s legacy.
Related stories
- Poultry farmers: A guide to selling to abattoirs
- TikTok trailblazer: Botswana’s Mosa farms, leads, and inspires
- MSc graduate turns mushroom waste into poultry gold
- Mastering poultry feed: Tips to maximise efficiency
Aliu candidly reflects on the internal restructuring she had to lead after taking over the farm, particularly the resistance she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry. “Men in farming don’t respect females. We would give directives, and it would be met with blatant disregard,” she says.
To address these challenges, Aliu made difficult decisions, letting go of managers and board members who were resistant to her leadership and replacing them with female staff. The changes had an immediate and positive impact, with the farm’s performance improving noticeably and earning recognition as the most improved farm of 2024.
Aliu offers practical guidance to women who experience pushback in the agricultural sector. “My approach is to be planted in God. If you’re not planted in God in this situation in agriculture, you will struggle to have a vision.”
She stresses the importance of knowledge, emotional discipline, and building a supportive network. Above all, she encourages embracing womanhood unapologetically, running the business in a way that reflects one’s identity, and expressing femininity with pride.
Scaling the dream
Aliu reflects on the future of Roadgrass Investments, honouring her parents’ vision while expanding it into something even greater that can endure for generations.
“I want to exceed her expectations of what she [Mom] and my dad had initially wanted for this farm,” she says.
She recounts one of the toughest lessons following her father’s passing: the consequences of hiring based on loyalty rather than competence. An accountant who excelled in other industries but lacked agricultural experience left the business with a R13-million SARS debt.
Navigating this challenge required creativity, patience, and resourcefulness. This shaped one of her most important contributions to the farm: establishing financial stability and rigorous management practices.
“Financial stability is very important. If you don’t have that sorted, that could honestly be the end of your business,” Aliu says.
EARLY-BIRD TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!
Africa’s biggest youth-in-agriculture gathering is back – and it’s only getting bigger!
Turning to technology
A major turning point for Roadgrass has been the integration of automated, AI-driven houses,
Her late brother originally proposed the idea of developing two distinct sections on the farm: a traditional, manually operated area known as the Ashley side, based in Mpumalanga, and a fully automated, AI-driven section called the Thabang side, based in Gauteng.
The Ashley side of the farm represents the more traditional, labour-intensive operations, where staff handle tasks such as adjusting ventilation curtains, managing stoves, and filling feeders. Aliu insists that every staff member begins here to build a solid foundation.
She emphasises that technology can never replace a true understanding of animal behaviour, particularly with chickens, which require careful attention and sensitivity.
On the Tabang side, automation and AI take centre stage.
“All the houses are run by AI systems that let you know if the temperature is an emergency, if there’s a lack of water, if the pH balance is incorrect.”
However, while AI drives much of the farm’s operations, staff are trained in additional roles to ensure they remain an integral part of the farm’s growth. Combined, the two facilities accommodate an impressive 600 000 chickens per cycle with Astral Foods as their offtaker.
Aliu explains Roadgrass Investments’ commitment to local employment and youth development:
“We involve ourselves with agricultural schools. We take up students, anything from six months to a year. Once we see phenomenal talent, we offer them permanent jobs.”
For young and aspiring agripreneurs, she highlights two key principles: To be willing to learn, as agriculture demands humility, curiosity, and consistency. Secondly, to build relationships with supportive organisations such as Land Bank and AgriSETA, which are designed to help emerging farmers.
Aliu’s journey reminds us that farming is more than production; it’s a purpose. She continues to honour her family’s legacy while proving that leadership rooted in care can nurture both people and prosperity.
READ NEXT: Masogas’ backyard garden booms into 140-ha crop blueprint
