The FAO recognizes Costa Rican farmer Olga Vargas as one of its 100 Rural Heroines

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has recognized two Central American women, Olga Vargas of Costa Rica and Mauricia del Rosario Vásquez Hernández de Gutiérrez of Guatemala, as part of its list of 100 rural heroines. This initiative honors women for their contributions to agricultural development, community leadership, and the sustainable management of rural resources.

Olga Vargas, based in Ujarrás, Puntarenas, was recognized for her work in transforming local water resources to support crop irrigation, household needs, and tilapia farming. Mauricia del Rosario Vásquez Hernández de Gutiérrez, a leader from the Xinka community in Guatemala, was selected for her advocacy and development work involving rural families, women, and youth within her indigenous community.