An international forum titled 'Farmer Women: Science, Innovation, and Transformation of Agro-food Systems' took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event was organized in honor of the International Day of Rural Women, observed on October 15, as well as the International Year of the Farmer Woman 2026, proclaimed by the United Nations.
The forum aimed to recognize the contribution of farmer women to ensuring food security and agricultural development, as well as to expand their access to scientific knowledge, innovations, modern technologies, and economic opportunities.
One hundred and fifty people participated in the event, including representatives from state and public organizations, international institutions, scientific and educational institutions, national and international experts, scientists, agricultural specialists, the farmer women themselves, and media representatives.
The organizers of the forum were jointly the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Committee on Family and Women, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the development bank KfW, the company Business & Finance Consulting (BFC) GmbH, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Republican Council of the Trade Union of Agro-industrial Complex Workers of Uzbekistan, the Farmers' Council of Uzbekistan, the Association 'Women in the Agricultural Sector,' and Tashkent State Agrarian University.
The designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Farmer Woman by the UN General Assembly is intended to highlight the indispensable role of women in agro-food systems and draw global attention to the structural obstacles they face. Within this International Year, FAO focuses on increasing women's access to land, financial resources, knowledge, technologies, and markets, thereby promoting gender equality and strengthening their socio-economic position in agriculture.
Sherzod Umarov, Deputy Representative of FAO in Uzbekistan, noted that farmer women play a critically important role in ensuring food security, developing rural communities, and building sustainable agro-food systems. However, they continue to face difficulties in accessing land, finance, modern technologies, and markets. He emphasized that the International Year of the Farmer Woman 2026 provides an opportunity to draw attention to these issues and promote practical solutions, and FAO is committed to enhancing the knowledge and skills of farmer women.
Discussions at the forum focused on increasing the participation of farmer women in agricultural science, agribusiness, and value chains, strengthening their role in climate change adaptation, promoting efficient use of natural resources, and increasing their contribution to food security.
The plenary session, titled 'Women as a Driving Force for the Transformation of Agro-food Systems: Gender Equality, Innovation, Climate Change Adaptation, and Sustainable Development,' addressed issues of women's economic empowerment, agricultural research and innovation, the implementation of digital technologies, and improved market access.
Thematic sessions explored agricultural innovations, opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in the fruit and vegetable sector, and women's participation in creating sustainable agro-food systems. Participants exchanged experiences and developed proposals to support women's entrepreneurship, apply research findings in practice, and strengthen cooperation between producers and research institutions.
An exhibition was organized during the forum, showcasing agricultural products grown by farmer women, processed foods, as well as agricultural innovations and startups. The exhibition allowed participants to present their goods, exchange experiences, establish new business contacts, and explore potential areas of cooperation.
Masturakhon Saifutdinova, a farmer woman from Uzbekistan, recognized as one of the 100 FAO Heroes in agro-food systems and rural development, shared her opinion: 'For us, as farmer women, the most important thing is the opportunity to improve the quality of our products, master new technologies, and bring our products to the market. For this, we need access to knowledge, financial support, and collaboration with specialists. Forums like this allow us to learn from the experience of other farmers, establish new partnerships, and find innovative solutions that we can apply on our own farms.'
The event also included an awards ceremony for the winners of the national competition 'Best Farmer Woman of the Year – 2026.' The competition recognized the achievements of farmer women in agricultural production, their initiatives in implementing innovative methods, and their contribution to the development of rural areas.
At the conclusion of the forum, participants adopted the Tashkent Declaration. The goal of this declaration is to expand the participation of farmer women in agricultural science and innovation, strengthen their economic capabilities, and improve access to knowledge and modern technologies. The declaration defines support for women's agricultural entrepreneurship, closer interaction between research institutions and producers, and the development of sustainable agro-food systems as priority areas, laying the foundation for further national and international cooperation in these fields.