{
  "id": 13132919,
  "title": "Emirati farmer Khadija Darwish Alqubaisi earns global recognition from FAO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/emirati-farmer-khadija-darwish-alqubaisi-earns-global-recognition",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T13:45:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/people/emirati-farmer-khadija-darwish-alqubaisi-earns-global-recognition-from-fao-1.500704603"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has honoured Emirati farmer Khadija Darwish Alqubaisi as part of its \"FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development\" program, an initiative launched to celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026. This recognition highlights her significant contributions to smart and sustainable agriculture, her efforts to promote women's participation in agriculture, and her role in sharing agricultural knowledge with students and youth. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, praised Alqubaisi's selection, noting that it underscores the UAE's commitment to empowering women in the agricultural sector and building productive, resource-efficient enterprises. She emphasized that the UAE's national strategy prioritizes women's empowerment as a key driver of economic development and food security, a principle championed by the visionary leadership of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Alqubaisi, who owns a farm in Al Ain, is a trailblazer in adopting modern agricultural techniques and encouraging greater female involvement in the sector. She was awarded first place in the Distinguished Female Farmer category at the fourth Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award in 2026. Moreover, Alqubaisi launched the Khadija Initiative to advance smart and sustainable farming practices, engaging school students in agricultural awareness programs to deepen their understanding of the sector's importance. This global acknowledgment comes as the UAE intensifies its efforts to promote women's roles in agriculture, including the 'Empowering Women Farmers' initiative launched by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. This initiative, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, was unveiled at the First Emirati Women Farmers Forum during the second Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition in April 2026. The forum convened over 200 Emirati women farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs to discuss business development opportunities, challenges, and share experiences. The exhibition's second edition featured an Emirati Women Farmers Corner, showcasing local produce, success stories, and the vital contributions of women to agriculture and food security. In August 2026, the Ministry initiated the first phase of its farmer field schools program for Emirati women farmers, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and FAO. This hands-on learning program aims to enhance skills in crop and apiary management, record-keeping, and economic evaluation of projects, empowering women farmers to make informed decisions and enhance their business efficiency.",
  "summary": "FAO selects Emirati Khadija Darwish AlqubaisiaAmong 100 women farmers recognised in global initiative",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}