FAO Recognizes Chairwoman of Heifer-Supported Cooperative in Cambodia as an Agrifood Systems Hero

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Heifer International is thrilled to congratulate Set Hach, chair of a Heifer-supported agricultural cooperative in Cambodia, for her inclusion by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems for Rural Development. 

Set Hach, chair of the Strey Phokphal Meanchey Agricultural Cooperative in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, received the award from FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu during a ceremony at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy on October 15, 2026, during the World Food Forum. The recognition, established in the spirit of the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer, celebrates women whose leadership and contributions are helping transform agrifood systems and rural communities.  

"We are incredibly proud of Set Hach and her global recognition," said Siyonn Sothearith, Director of Programs at Heifer International Cambodia .  "Her leadership demonstrates how one woman's resolve can empower hundreds of smallholder farmers, transform rural communities and strengthen food systems. Her achievement will inspire more women and young people to see themselves as leaders and changemakers."

In 2013, Set Hach joined a women's self-help group supported by Heifer International Cambodia and its partners. She began saving, attending financial literacy and leadership training, and taking part in community activities. She became a self-help group leader and later a volunteer literacy trainer. Encouraged by fellow cooperative members, she stood for election as deputy chair of the cooperative before becoming its chair in 2017.

The cooperative has grown significantly under her leadership. Established in 2016 with just 82 members, including 79 women, it expanded to 540 members, including 451 women, across 30 villages by 2025. Its capital increased from approximately US$2,275 to more than US$130,000, with 3,014 member shares. It also established 23 self-help groups with 556 members, including 487 women, mobilizing more than US$54,000 in savings. 

Her journey—from a rural homemaker and volunteer literacy teacher to a nationally respected cooperative leader receiving international recognition—demonstrates how access to knowledge, collective action, and leadership opportunities can empower women to drive meaningful change in their communities. 

Learn more about Set Hach's journey in this video.

Visit Heifer's She Has a Story to Tell campaign portal, where we are bringing the voices of woman farmers like Set Hach to the fore during the International Year of the Woman Farmer.  

ABOUT HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
Since 1944, Heifer International has worked with nearly 62 smallholder farming households in Africa, Asia and the Americas to help them sustainably address hunger and poverty in their communities while caring for the Earth. Through partnerships in multiple sectors, Heifer offers farmers integrated strategies to achieve thriving, resilient lives through better food systems. About two-thirds of Heifer's program participants are women.

For more information, visit https://www.heifer.org .

SOURCE Heifer International