In rural Tajikistan, farmer Sonya Kirgizova is helping lead a quiet agricultural transformation. Known in her community for her greenhouse, beekeeping, and food preservation, she has become a trusted mentor for women farmers as they take on larger roles in agriculture while many men migrate for seasonal work.
Through a project led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funded by the Global Environment Facility, Kirgizova helps manage a community seed bank and leads hands-on trainings that teach women how to grow vegetables, manage greenhouses, and revive traditional crop varieties.
The initiative is helping farmers restore climate-resilient local seeds, improve household nutrition, and create new income opportunities—while empowering women to see themselves as producers, mentors, and decision-makers in their communities.
