In a significant milestone, two distinguished representatives of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) membership, Evangelista Chekera, WFO Gymnasium Alumna from the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU), and Zeinab Ahmad Al Momany, Head of the Specific Union for Farmers Women in Jordan, have been recognised among the 2025 Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP) by the World Food Prize Foundation.

On the occasion of the Foundation’s 39th anniversary, this prestigious recognition honours 39 individuals from diverse ages, backgrounds, and fields of work related to agriculture and food globally, who are transforming and shaping the future of food systems through innovation, leadership, and impact. The awardees will receive formal recognition during the 2025 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, to be held from 21 to 23 October in Des Moines, Iowa.

Innovative Solutions for Smallholder Farmers: Evangelista Chekera’s Journey with Passion Poultry

Evangelista Chekera, a young farmer from Zimbabwe, is the founder of Passion Poultry, a company dedicated to innovative poultry solutions for small-scale farmers. Driven by her determination to address the high chick mortality rate on smallholder farms in her country, she developed a chick brooding device that reduces chick mortality rates by 95% by mimicking the natural warmth of a mother hen. Today, the company collaborates with over 500 farmers and partners for distribution, logistics and digital marketing.

Empowering Women Farmers Through Cooperative Initiatives in Jordan

In Jordan, Zeinab Ahmad Al Momany founded the Sakhrah Women’s Society Cooperative to help women earn an independent income through small projects, such as harvesting and drying vegetables, cleaning grains, packaging crops, dairy production and needlework. As the cooperative began to expand, Al Momany went on to establish the Specific Union for Female Farmers, which supports female farmers in confronting unemployment, poverty and exploitation and violence.

This recognition highlights the crucial role that farmers have in driving innovation and ensuring more sustainable and resilient food systems. WFO is committed to supporting its members in their ongoing effort to build a better future for all.

Image courtesy of the World Food Prize Foundation | @WorldFoodPrize