Farmer from Kostanay Region Receives FAO Award in Rome

Among more than 600 nominees from 131 countries, the organization selected 100 women heroes for their contribution to the development of agrifood systems and rural areas.

The gist in brief

• Gulnara Kuanyshbayevа became one of 100 FAO women heroes selected from more than 600 nominees from 131 countries.
• The award ceremony took place in Rome as part of the World Food Forum, held from October 12 to 16.
• The farmer said she did not expect such recognition and noted that among the heroes were women from Asia, Africa and South America.
• The farm is building a dairy farm for 400 head, with delivery of 400 heifers planned for November.

What the farmer said about the award

According to the Kostanay News Instagram account, Gulnara Kuanyshbayevа admitted that she was "in shock from everything that is happening": she did not think she would end up at an award ceremony in Italy or that the recognition would be worldwide.

"I felt like a hero when I overcame difficulties and solved various problems, but I did not think it would be recognition on a worldwide level. This is another level, another recognition of your work. Today I saw a great many women who came from different countries — Asia, Africa, South America, Brazil. These are 100 heroes from all over the world. And all these women are true laborers. Without makeup, without embellishment, without pretense. True heroes of their work," shared Gulnara Sagimbayevna.

The FAO hero thanked the people who helped achieve this: on her own, she said, she would not have achieved everything.

"About five years ago I entered the book '100 Successful Women in Agriculture of Kazakhstan.' Now I have entered the list of 100 women of the world level. So, since the world has recognized me, it means I deserve it. I feel great gratitude to the people who helped me achieve this. On my own, of course, I would not have done all this. I am grateful to them for being there, for seeing certain qualities in me, for noticing my work, my labor and my pursuit of the goal," noted the farmer.

What the Kazakh woman was recognized for

Kuanyshbayevа is an economist and lawyer by education and began as an accountant on a state farm. In 2007 she founded a peasant farm. Today it occupies more than 3 thousand hectares, produces feed for agricultural producers in the region, is engaged in raising and fattening cattle and produces beef. In 2021, the head of the farm was among the heroes of the project "100 Success Stories of Rural Women of Kazakhstan," reports the Ministry of Agriculture.

In the invitation to Rome, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu noted the leadership, dedication and influence of Kuanyshbayevа on the development of rural areas.

"Through your work, you have demonstrated how women transform agrifood systems, improve living conditions in rural areas, protect natural resources, empower local communities and create opportunities for future generations," the invitation from Qu Dongyu says.

Heroes from neighboring countries

Among the 100 women heroes there are also residents of other countries in the region. From Uzbekistan, the award went to Masturakhon Sayfutdinova, head of the Quva anori agro-firm, which grows pomegranates and is engaged in fruit growing. From Kyrgyzstan, the list includes Raisa Tologonova from the Issyk-Kul region: she developed a new apple variety, "Guldana," and grows black currants. From Belarus, Inna Tolkachova, a senator and director of the Soligorsk poultry farm, was recognized. From Russia, Natalya Sukhanova was awarded; her farm specializes in breeding cattle of the elite beef breed Black Angus, as well as Katuma sheep in the Voronezh region.

What plans the farm has

In 2025, the head of the farm applied for preferential lending for a project to build a dairy farm for 400 head. In 2026, the project received support under the program to replicate the experience of the North Kazakhstan region, and work began in April. Delivery of 400 heifers is planned for November. Heifers are pregnant young cows that have not yet calved.

Gulnara Kuanyshbayevа also advocates the creation of a specialized Feed Corporation and the introduction of modern scientific methods of feed preparation. According to the farmer, this will strengthen livestock farming and provide the country's residents with high-quality domestic products.

Author's conclusion

We are happy for our compatriot and congratulate Gulnara Kuanyshbayevа on the award. Women in Kazakh agriculture are a noticeable force: according to the Ministry of Agriculture, they head 77.1 thousand agricultural producers, that is, 27.1% of the total number. From 2021 to 2025, the number of women heading agricultural companies grew by 39.5%, and those heading peasant farms by 18.3%. We hope that in the future the world will notice other Kazakh women farmers as well.