A group of 20 rural women from the community of Chapernas in Escuintla, Guatemala, gathered on October 24, 2025, to mark the International Day of Rural Women. The event aimed to recognize the role of women in food production and community development.
The activity was organized by Leslie Sosa, a nutritionist working with the Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture program, and supported by María del Carmen Reyes, a Rural Home educator from the Escuintla office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA).
According to organizers, the United Nations declared this day in 2007 to highlight "the fundamental role of women in food production, food security and sustainable development."
Sosa began the event with an activity called “the spider web,” where each participant shared her experiences and described crops grown at home. This exercise emphasized teamwork among participants. "This dynamic symbolized how all women are united by ties of collaboration, mutual support and commitment to their families and communities," Sosa said.
Reyes delivered a talk on “Productive Yards,” focusing on maintaining family gardens using safe agricultural practices.
Elmer Esquit, a field technician from MAGA’s Urban Agriculture department within the Directorate for Community Food Production Support (DAPCA), distributed seedlings such as eggplant, onion, celery, Swiss chard and jalapeño pepper to attendees. The goal was to boost household food production.
Sosa also explained the nutritional value of each crop as part of efforts to promote healthy eating habits.
"MAGA reaffirms its commitment to recognizing and supporting rural women by strengthening their role as agents of change in their communities and promoting family farming, food security and nutrition in Escuintla," according to a statement released at the event.
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