Rural Development

BEIJING – November 05, 2026 -- Kuqa City Bostan Walnut Professional Cooperative in China's Xinjiang region buys 7,000 to 8,000 metric tons of dried walnuts a year and serves around 30,000 farming households, while it opens talks with overseas clients on exports, according to China Daily.

Cooperative sources from 2,800 growers in one township

Akwusitang township holds 1,600 hectares of walnut orchards and yields more than 10,000 tons of dried walnuts. Kuqa as a whole has more than 20,000 hectares of orchards. The cooperative's purchasing scope now covers surrounding townships, and it serves more than 2,800 local growers in Akwusitang alone.

LITTLE ROCK – October 29, 2026 -- A Cambodian agricultural cooperative led by Set Hach has grown its capital from about US$2,275 to more than US$130,000, a track record behind her place on the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's list of 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems for Rural Development, Heifer International said.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu presented the award in Rome on October 15

Hach chairs the Strey Phokphal Meanchey Agricultural Cooperative in Siem Reap Province. She received the award from FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu at FAO headquarters during the World Food Forum. The recognition was established in the spirit of the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Cooperative membership rose from 82 to 540 across 30 villages

The cooperative was established in 2016 with 82 members, including 79 women. By 2025 it counted 540 members, including 451 women, across 30 villages. Member shares total 3,014.

Cambridge, Mass. – September 25, 2026 -- Forbes has named Farm Aid Co-Executive Director and Program Director Shorlette Ammons to its 2026 50 Over 50: Impact list, recognizing her role in strengthening family farmers and rural food systems.

Forbes list marks sixth year honoring women over 50

The list, produced in partnership with Mika Brzezinski's Know Your Value initiative, is now in its sixth edition, celebrating women driving impact at age 50 and beyond. Ammons' selection cites her work addressing barriers facing family farmers, particularly Black, Indigenous and other farmers of color, and building farmer-led power within agricultural systems.