From Local Farms to Global Fame! 2 Indonesian Women Named Among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes of 2026.

 

Two Indonesian Women Farmers Named Among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes of 2026 in Rome

 

International recognition highlights how Indonesian women are advancing food security, agricultural innovation, and sustainable rural development.

 

Two Indonesian women farmers, Rulyantina from Pandeglang, Banten, and Istiqamah from Aceh, have been recognized among the 100 Women Heroes of 2026 in an initiative organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. Their achievements demonstrate how women can transform local agricultural resources into economic opportunities while strengthening food security and connecting Indonesian products with global markets.

The recognition is part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, which highlights women's contributions to agriculture and food systems worldwide.

“This recognition provides an opportunity to introduce the achievements of Indonesian women to the world,” said Muharfiza, the Agricultural Attaché of the Republic of Indonesia in Italy, in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Saturday.

The honor recognizes women's contributions across agricultural value chains, from food innovation and value-added processing to farmer organization, market development, and sustainable production. Rulyantina and Istiqamah exemplify these contributions through two complementary approaches: developing local food products and strengthening coffee farmers' access to international markets.

 

Rulyantina: Turning a Local Tuber into an Economic Opportunity

Known as “Unni Talas Beneng,” Rulyantina is a food innovator from Pandeglang, Banten, who has transformed beneng taro, a distinctive local tuber, into a range of value-added products.

Her approach emphasizes zero-waste principles by maximizing the use of raw materials and minimizing waste. This not only increases the economic potential of a local crop but also supports food diversification and creates business opportunities for rural communities, particularly women and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

In developing beneng taro, Rulyantina has received assistance from the Center for Agricultural Assembly and Modernization (BRMP) in Banten, as part of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture's efforts to develop local agricultural commodities.

This collaboration illustrates how community-level entrepreneurship can benefit from technical assistance and institutional support. By combining local knowledge with improved processing and business development, regional crops can become more competitive products while generating additional income for rural households.

Rulyantina's experience offers a valuable lesson: agricultural innovation does not always require introducing new crops. It can begin by recognizing the untapped potential of existing local resources and finding better ways to process and market them.

 

Istiqamah: Empowering Coffee Farmers for Global Markets

From Aceh, Istiqamah demonstrates how strong farmer organizations can connect local agricultural production with international markets.

As a cooperative secretary, she represents 980 members who collectively manage more than 1,200 hectares of coffee plantations. Her work supports stronger farmer institutions, consistent product quality, and expanded market access. Coffee produced by the cooperative has reached several countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Qatar.

Her experience highlights the importance of cooperatives in strengthening farmers' bargaining power. By organizing collectively, farmers can coordinate production, maintain quality standards, develop commercial networks, and establish stronger relationships with international buyers.

Beyond market development, Istiqamah promotes sustainable coffee cultivation through agroforestry, which integrates coffee production with trees and other vegetation. When appropriately managed, this approach can help conserve forest cover, maintain soil health, protect water resources, and improve agricultural resilience.

These environmental benefits are increasingly important as farmers face climate change, pest pressures, and fluctuating market conditions. Sustainable cultivation helps protect the natural resources on which long-term agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods depend.

Istiqamah's achievements also demonstrate the strategic role women can play in agricultural leadership. Through cooperative management, sustainable farming, and international marketing, women can help strengthen local economies while promoting more responsible agricultural practices.

Two Women, One Vision for Agricultural Progress

Although Rulyantina and Istiqamah work with different commodities, their achievements share a common purpose: turning agricultural potential into lasting benefits for people and communities.

Rulyantina shows how local food resources can be transformed into higher-value products, while Istiqamah demonstrates how collective organization and sustainable cultivation can help farmers compete in international markets.

Their experiences offer three important lessons for Indonesia's agricultural future.

First, local resources can become drivers of rural prosperity when supported by innovation, improved processing, and market-oriented entrepreneurship. Traditional crops can create new opportunities for food diversification, small businesses, and employment.

Second, strong farmer institutions help producers compete more effectively. Cooperatives enable farmers to coordinate production, maintain quality, improve bargaining power, and reach buyers beyond their immediate communities.

Third, economic growth and environmental sustainability must go hand in hand. Reducing agricultural waste and promoting responsible cultivation can help preserve natural resources while supporting productive and resilient farming communities.

Underpinning all three lessons is the importance of women's empowerment. Access to knowledge, technology, finance, training, and markets can enable more women to lead agricultural businesses, strengthen farmer organizations, and contribute to innovation throughout the value chain.

For Indonesia, with its rich agricultural biodiversity and diverse regional commodities, these approaches offer opportunities to improve rural livelihoods and enhance the competitiveness of domestic products.

A Global Recognition with a Lasting Message

The 100 Women Heroes recognition associated with the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 provides a platform to highlight the contributions of women to agriculture worldwide.

For Indonesia, Rulyantina and Istiqamah represent two pathways to agricultural transformation. One demonstrates how a local food crop can generate new products and business opportunities; the other shows how cooperatives, quality management, and sustainable cultivation can connect farmers with global markets.

Their achievements remind us that agricultural progress is measured not only by production volumes and export revenues but also by its ability to create added value, strengthen rural institutions, improve livelihoods, and protect the environment.

When women farmers have the opportunity to innovate, lead, and access wider markets, the benefits extend far beyond individual farms. Their work can strengthen food security, expand rural employment, and build more inclusive and sustainable agricultural systems.

The international recognition of these two Indonesian women is therefore more than a personal milestone. It celebrates the creativity, determination, and leadership of women farmers while highlighting their essential contribution to Indonesia's agricultural future.

Their stories carry a message for farming communities across the country: meaningful change can begin with local resources, collective action, and the determination to turn possibilities into progress.

Sometimes, the future of global agriculture begins with a woman farmer who sees extraordinary potential in the land, the crops, and the community around her.

 

RESOURCE:

AntaraNews 17 October 2026, Dua petani perempuan Indonesia raih 100 Women Heroes FAO 2026 di Roma.

 

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