The President of the Republic, Keiko Fujimori, on Thursday led a ceremony to present co-financing checks totaling S/10 million (about US$2.9 million) to boost ventures led by 739 rural and Indigenous women, with the aim of strengthening their economic autonomy and creating greater development opportunities for their families.
During the event to mark International Rural and Indigenous Women's Day, the top official was accompanied by Ministers Marco Vinelli (Agrarian Development and Irrigation) and Maria Seminario (Women and Vulnerable Populations).
Together, they recognized the 78 organizations selected under the 2026 Rural and Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy (EEMRI).
"I feel very proud of Peruvian women, rural women, and Indigenous women. This is a simple yet meaningful ceremony, filled with pride and recognition for all of you," Fujimori said.
"Today, we celebrate a very important day that must not go unnoticed,” she added.
The Head of State emphasized that the disbursement demonstrates the Government's confidence in rural women and its commitment to strengthening local economies.
This initiative by the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) seeks to strengthen agricultural, livestock, and forestry businesses led by rural women by providing resources to improve production, expand market opportunities, and increase their income.
"These plans make it possible to bring resources and technical assistance, which is fundamental, closer to them and provide them with better tools to increase their productivity and help them find markets, as they are already doing," Fujimori said.
Through the Competitiveness Compensation Program (Agroideas), 78 business plans that met the requirements established during the selection process were approved.
The co-financing scheme provides for the State to cover 90% of the total investment, contributing S/10 million, while the beneficiary organizations will provide a counterpart contribution of approximately S/1 million (about US$290,000).
The funds will help strengthen activities related to the production of coffee, cacao, and honey, as well as guinea pig breeding and cattle and pig farming, among other production chains.
The President highlighted women's ability to move their ventures forward and contribute to the development of their families and communities.
"Women sometimes need a little push, but we know how to do things on our own and can demonstrate that, given equal opportunities, we know how to get ahead," Fujimori pointed out.
"It has been proven in Peru and around the world that when the State invests in a woman, it also invests in her family, her children, the future, and the creation of better citizens," she noted.
The Head of State announced that next year's ceremony will be held in one of the country's regions, in recognition of the wonderful work carried out by rural and Indigenous women producers.
Ventures in 18 regions
In this edition, Junin has the highest number of winning organizations, with 22 associations, followed by Apurimac, with eight; Amazonas, with seven; Ancash, Cajamarca, and Huancavelica, with six each; and Ayacucho, with five.
Two organizations from each of the regions of Pasco, Loreto, Arequipa, Cusco, Piura, Lambayeque, and Huanuco were also selected; meanwhile, Ica, La Libertad, Puno, and San Martin each have one beneficiary organization.
The 78 associations were selected from among more than 400 applicants that took part in the call for proposals launched last March.
The evaluation process included a review of documents, field visits, and the presentation of the respective business plans.
Boosting economic autonomy
Since the launch of the Rural and Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy in 2022, more than 9,700 female producers nationwide have benefited from funding for initiatives totaling more than S/86 million (about US$25 million).
The program is promoted by Midagri through the Directorate for the Promotion of Women Agricultural Producers and implemented by Agroideas.
It aims to expand beneficiaries' economic opportunities and strengthen their participation in agricultural, livestock, and forestry activities.
This latest disbursement seeks to continue promoting the productive development of rural and Indigenous women, recognizing their entrepreneurial ability and their contribution to their families' and communities' economies.