Vangelina Parmachka named FAO 100 Women Hero

Vangelina Parmachka, a farmer from the village of Budincari in North Macedonia, has been named one of the ‘100 Women Heroes in Agro-food Systems and Rural Development’ by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

At the World Food Forum in Rome, Parmachka represented her country, highlighting the vital role of women in agriculture. She manages a family farm with approximately 600 sheep, producing traditional sheep cheese. Beyond her farm, she serves on the Board of Directors and as a coordinator for the Women Farmers Network within the National Federation of Farmers (NFF).

Through her advocacy with the NFF, Parmachka and her colleagues have worked to secure better rights and conditions for rural women. Their efforts contributed to initiating investment support measures for female farmers in the Rural Development Program and establishing social security programs, including regulated maternity leave for registered female farmers.