IICA Mexico launches radio program to showcase the work of rural women in the Americas

Primera — Diego Montenegro, IICA Representative in Mexico; Tania Pérez Buendía, Director General of Cultural Dissemination and Services at the Autonomous University of Chapingo; and Daniel Rodríguez Martínez, host of Radio Chapingo.

Mexico City, 3 June 2024 (IICA) - The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Radio Chapingo of the Autonomous University of Chapingo (UACH) launched the radio program "Women, Seeds of Rurality in the Americas”, which will focus on the invaluable work of rural women as drivers of development in their communities and guarantors of food security in the Americas.

The program will be broadcast weekly on Radio Chapingo, and will feature rural women who will share their stories and life experiences, as well as their various daily activities. This is expected to help raise awareness in society about the complex challenges and difficulties they face.

With interviews with community leaders and rural entrepreneurs, the program aims to become a space for reflection on and acknowledgment of the work carried out by these women who, despite adversity, are engines of change in their communities.

The aim of the program is also to inspire others to follow the example of these rural leaders, promoting their participation in decision-making, access to resources, and the construction of more just and inclusive communities.

Present at the program's launch were Diego Montenegro, IICA Representative in Mexico; Tania Pérez, Director General of Cultural Dissemination and Services at the Autonomous University of Chapingo; and professor/researcher Diana Reyna Izaguirre, who underscored the importance of recognizing the contributions of rural women and their challenges.

"The aim is to enhance knowledge about the activities carried out by women, as they are agents of change, leaders, and entrepreneurs who deserve to be recognized and valued," said Montenegro.

Segunda — *With interviews with community leaders and rural entrepreneurs, the program aims to become a space for reflection on and recognition of the work carried out by rural women.*

Pérez emphasized the importance of the alliance with IICA, and said that this radio program will help her institution to visibilize rural women and address their needs. "It is crucial that we support initiatives that focus on rural women and provide them with the opportunity to share their experiences, knowledge, and perspectives. Only then can we build more just, equitable, and prosperous communities," she expressed.

Researcher Diana Reyna stressed that giving visibility to women through a radio program helps to break stereotypes and prejudices, while fostering gender equality and promoting more inclusive development.

Juana García Palomares, Leader of Rurality of the Americas recognized by IICA, environmental activist, and president of the National Association of Rural Businesswomen A.C. (ANMEC), and Ana Lilia Hernández León, a 16-year-old young practitioner of regenerative livestock, described their experiences as women dedicated to agriculture and underscored the importance of receiving this type of support for initiatives such as this one, so that they can share their stories, achievements, and challenges, inspiring other women to follow in their footsteps and contributing to their development.

The radio program is expected to be broadcast on other radio stations soon to reach a larger audience.

More information:
jose.lazos@iica.int
jose.ayala@iica.int
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