ROME, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese women have been named among the FAO 100 Women Heroes under the "Agrifood Systems and Rural Development" initiative, according to a list of 99 honorees recently released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
They are Yu Jinxiu, a moxibustion therapist from Qichun County in central China's Hubei Province, and Dong Minfang, president of the Fengrui Agricultural Machinery Professional Cooperative in Yueyang County, central China's Hunan Province.
Launched by the FAO to mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, the global initiative recognizes 100 women for their outstanding contributions to agriculture, food systems and rural development.
An award ceremony will be held on Oct. 15 at the FAO headquarters in Rome as part of this year's World Food Forum. Xinhua has learned that the remaining honoree will be announced at the ceremony.
The FAO said it received 609 nominations from 131 members. The selection process involved an eligibility review, an assessment, and ranking by senior management, and two rounds of deliberations.
According to the FAO website, Yu is a leading practitioner of Qichun Moxibustion Therapy, a nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage in China. She also serves as a brand ambassador for the "Qichun Moxibustion Therapist" labour service brand.
Over the past two decades, Yu has trained more than 30,000 professional moxibustion therapists and helped thousands of people find jobs or start businesses, raising incomes for rural residents, particularly women and people with disabilities.
Dong heads the Runsheng Rice Professional Cooperative and the Fengrui Agricultural Machinery Professional Cooperative. After leaving a successful corporate career to return to farming in her hometown, she has led efforts to expand mechanized grain production and support smallholder farmers. She has also helped create employment, training and entrepreneurship opportunities for rural women.
The United Nations designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer to highlight women's contribution to agrifood systems and promote policies and investments that improve their access to finance, knowledge and services. ■
