Antara News · সাধারণ

Two Indonesian women farmers named to FAO 100 Women Heroes list

১৬/১০/২০২৬

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Two Indonesian women farmers, Istiqamah from Aceh and Rulyantina from Banten, have been named to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) list of 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development.

The two were awarded by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu during the World Food Forum in Rome, Italy, on Thursday (Oct.15) for their contributions to sustainable agriculture and rural economic empowerment, together with 98 other women from various countries.

"A community-based model of education and empowerment that positions women not merely as support labor, but as key decision-makers in the coffee supply chain is crucial," Istiqamah said in an official statement received on Friday.

Istiqamah is the secretary of a coffee cooperative in Aceh, representing 980 members who collectively manage more than 1,200 hectares of coffee farmland.

Through the cooperative, she has advanced agroforestry-based sustainable coffee production, integrating farming with environmental conservation while strengthening women’s participation in the coffee supply chain.

According to Istiqamah, women farmers need broader access to training, technology, financing, markets, and social protection. She added that recognition of women’s roles within agricultural institutions is also vital to improving farmers' welfare.

Meanwhile, Rulyantina received FAO recognition for her innovation in processing talas beneng (giant taro) into various value-added products through a zero-waste approach.

Her innovation is credited with supporting local food diversification, creating business opportunities, and empowering women as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

"I want to help women, especially housewives in my community, earn their own income without having to go far from home to work," Rulyantina said.

She expressed hope that local governments can optimize the potential of local food commodities by expanding women farmers' access to training, capital, technology, and markets.

Rulyantina added that women's experience in agriculture should also be taken into account when drafting programs to ensure that policies meet community needs.

Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture Secretary General Suwandi commended the FAO's recognition, citing it as proof of local agricultural innovation's potential to drive economic value.

He reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to improving farmers' welfare, strengthening women’s participation in agribusiness, and expanding access to technology and markets to support rural economic development.

FAO Representative to Indonesia and Timor-Leste Rajendra Aryal noted that the efforts made by Istiqamah and Rulyantina demonstrate the benefits of women's empowerment for local economies and food security.

"The remarkable work of Ms. Istiqamah and Ms. Rulyantina shows that when we close the gender gap and invest in women, everyone benefits," Rajendra said.

According to 2023 FAO data, women account for about 42 percent of the global agrifood workforce. However, the farm productivity gap between women and men remains at 24 percent.

The organization estimates that closing the gender gap in agricultural productivity and wages could reduce the number of people experiencing food insecurity worldwide by up to 45 million.

The selection of the FAO 100 Women Heroes was made through a review process of 609 nominations submitted by 131 FAO member states as part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 and World Food Day commemorations.

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