Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — An international forum entitled “Women Farmers: Science, Innovation and Agrifood Systems Transformation” was held in Tashkent to mark the International Day of Rural Women on 15 October and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (IYWF 2026), proclaimed by the United Nations. The event recognized women farmers’ contributions to agriculture and food security and focused on expanding their access to science, innovation, modern technologies and economic opportunities.
The forum brought together 150 participants, including representatives of government and public organizations, international institutions, research and educational establishments, international and national experts, academics, agricultural specialists, women farmers and the media.
The event was jointly organized by 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), KfW Development Bank, 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 Council of Farmers of Uzbekistan, the Association “Women in the Agricultural Sector” and Tashkent State Agrarian University.
The United Nations General Assembly's designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer aims to recognize women's essential role in agrifood systems and draw international attention to the structural barriers they face. As part of the International Year, FAO is placing particular emphasis on expanding women's access to land, financial resources, knowledge, technologies and markets, advancing gender equality and strengthening their economic and social position in agriculture.
“Women farmers play a vital role in ensuring food security, developing rural communities and building sustainable agrifood systems. However, they continue to face barriers in accessing land, financial resources, modern technologies and markets. The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 provides an important opportunity to draw attention to these challenges and advance practical solutions. FAO is committed to strengthening women farmers’ knowledge and skills, expanding their access to innovation and supporting their equal participation in agrifood systems,” said Sherzod Umarov, Deputy FAO Representative in Uzbekistan.
The forum's discussions focused on expanding women farmers' participation in agricultural science, agribusiness and value chains, strengthening their role in climate change adaptation, promoting the efficient use of natural resources and enhancing their contribution to food security.
The plenary session, “Women as a Driving Force in Agrifood Systems Transformation: Gender Equality, Innovation, Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Development”, addressed women's economic empowerment, agricultural research and innovation, the introduction of digital technologies and improved access to markets.
Thematic sessions explored agricultural innovation, opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in the fruit and vegetable sector, and women's participation in developing sustainable agrifood systems. Participants exchanged experiences and developed proposals to support women's entrepreneurship, apply research findings in agricultural practice and strengthen cooperation between producers and research institutions.
An exhibition organized as part of the forum showcased agricultural products grown by women farmers, processed food products, agricultural innovations and start-ups. The exhibition provided participants with opportunities to present their products, exchange experiences, establish new business contacts and explore potential areas of cooperation.
“For us, as women farmers, what matters most is having the opportunity to improve the quality of our products, learn new technologies and bring our products to market. To achieve this, we need access to knowledge, financial support and cooperation with specialists. Forums like this allow us to learn from other farmers’ experiences, establish new partnerships and discover innovative solutions that we can apply on our own farms,” said Masturakhon Sayfutdinova, a woman farmer from Uzbekistan recognized among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development and a participant in the forum.
The event also featured an award ceremony for the winners of the national “Best Woman Farmer of the Year – 2026” competition. The competition recognized women farmers' achievements in agricultural production, their initiatives in introducing innovative practices and their contributions to rural development.
At the conclusion of the forum, participants adopted the Tashkent Declaration, aimed at expanding women farmers' participation in agricultural science and innovation, strengthening their economic opportunities and improving access to knowledge and modern technologies.
The Declaration identifies support for women's agricultural entrepreneurship, stronger cooperation between research institutions and producers, and the development of sustainable agrifood systems as priority areas. It provides a basis for continued national and international cooperation in these fields.
Held in observance of the International Day of Rural Women and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, the forum provided an important platform for dialogue on expanding women farmers' participation in agrifood systems transformation, strengthening their economic opportunities and supporting sustainable agricultural development through science and innovation.
