FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development is a global recognition initiative launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026. It celebrates 100 women nominated for their outstanding contributions to agriculture, food systems, and rural development. The honorees come from across the agrifood value chain and represent a wide range of roles and backgrounds. Their work has expanded market access, strengthened food security, preserved traditional and indigenous knowledge, protected natural resources, and created employment and training opportunities for rural communities. Their profiles reflect both individual achievement and a shared commitment to inclusive agrifood systems transformation. Selection process for FAO Women Heroes The selection process for the FAO 100 Women was designed to ensure broad Member participation, geographic balance, transparency and consistency. A call for submissions was shared with all FAO Members and was also transmitted directly to each Member, with the maximum number of submissions allowed per country determined according to population size. In total, 131 Members submitted 609 nominations. All nominations were first reviewed to verify compliance with the submission requirements and with the quota assigned to each country. Eligible submissions were then assessed and ranked by FAO senior management. Candidates were shortlisted based on the highest number of selections received from members of the Senior Leadership Committee, while respecting the maximum number of candidates to be selected. The shortlisted candidates were subsequently reviewed through two rounds of deliberations by senior leadership. These discussions provided an additional level of assessment to ensure the overall quality, balance and representativeness of the final group. The final list of selected candidates was then approved by the Senior Leadership Committee, after which the successful candidates were formally informed of their selection. FAO Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development - India ZT Lalrithangi ZT Lalrithangi is a successful horticulture entrepreneur hailing from Sangau village (about 1300 households), Lawngtlai district, Mizoram, who has built a thriving strawberry farming enterprise through the adoption of innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. Supported by government programmes, she developed an integrated farming system combining strawberry cultivation, fish farming, and poultry production, significantly improving farm productivity and resource efficiency. She is also actively engaged in exploring and promoting the processing of strawberries into value-added products, particularly strawberry juice. Her 2-acre enterprise generates an annual income of ₹6–10 lakh and serves as a model for profitable scientific horticulture. Through her active involvement in local farming groups, mentorship of fellow farmers, and creation of employment opportunities for local youth, she has contributed to rural development and agricultural innovation, earning recognition as the Best Horticulture Farmer of Lawngtlai District for 2025–26. Priyanka Mahesh Shelke Priyanka Mahesh Shelke is a rural development professional, agricultural leader, and social entrepreneur from Maharashtra with more than 12 years of experience in farmer empowerment, women’s entrepreneurship, and sustainable agriculture. She has played a leading role in strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), improving agricultural value chains, and expanding market access for farmers across multiple Indian states. As founder of Krushijeevan Agro Farmer Producer Company and Junnar Women Farmer Producer Company, she has supported tens of thousands of farmers, empowered more than 5,000 women, and mobilized significant public investment for rural development. Through her work promoting sustainable farming practices, mechanization, value addition, and farmer-to-consumer market models, she has helped improve incomes, create employment opportunities, and advance inclusive and resilient rural economies. Source : FAO