Strength of cooperative family farmers marks International Workshop promoted by UNICAFES Brazil in Natal

Agência Mais Comunica
May 30
2 min read

May 30, 2026

The prominence of women farmers in cooperatives gained even more strength during the International Workshop “Women Family Farmers in Cooperatives: Sowing a More Prosperous, Equal, Just and Sustainable Future”, held in Natal (RN). The meeting brought together family farmers from various regions of Brazil, representatives of the United Nations (UN), cooperative leaders, social movements and representatives of ministries of the Federal Government in a major mobilization for the empowerment of women in rural areas.

Promoted by UNICAFES Brazil in partnership with ASCAFES, the workshop has established itself as one of the largest forums for discussion on cooperativism, productive inclusion, economic autonomy, and the empowerment of women in family farming in the country.

During three days of programming, the event promoted debates, roundtables, panels, and moments of collective construction focused on the agendas of rural women. The program addressed topics such as access to credit, public policies, marketing, female entrepreneurship, rural youth, succession in the countryside, climate change, combating violence, and strengthening cooperatives in family farming.

The meeting took place as part of the activities of the International Year of Rural Women, celebrated in partnership with the UN, reinforcing the importance of women in food systems, sustainable production, and the construction of fairer and more supportive territories.

The official opening was attended by the president of UNICAFES Brazil, Fátima Torres, the secretary of Women of UNICAFES Brazil, Sandra Bergamin, the governor of Rio Grande do Norte, Fátima Bezerra, the state deputy Isolda Dantas, as well as representatives from ministries of the Federal Government and leaders of cooperatives from all over Brazil.

The speeches during the workshop were marked by emotion, resilience, and advocacy for expanding public policies aimed at women farmers in cooperatives. The event also reinforced the importance of collective organization as a tool for social transformation, income generation, and strengthening rural communities.

For many participants, the workshop represented a welcoming space for exchanging experiences and strengthening their political voices. Women farmers shared stories of overcoming challenges, showing how cooperativism has transformed realities and expanded opportunities in Brazilian rural territories.

One of the most memorable moments of the meeting was the creation of the "Christmas Charter," a document collectively drafted by the participants throughout the program. The charter brings together proposals and demands aimed at strengthening rural women, including access to credit, technical assistance, marketing, productive inclusion, combating violence, and increasing female participation in decision-making spaces.

More than just an institutional meeting, the workshop left a legacy of hope, unity, and empowerment for women family farmers in cooperatives. In each panel, account, and exchange of experiences, it became clear that the future of Brazilian family farming necessarily depends on female leadership.

With strong popular and institutional participation, the event reaffirmed the role of women in food production, environmental preservation, the solidarity economy, and the sustainable development of Brazil.

The International Workshop was organized by UNICAFES Brazil and ASCAFES, in institutional partnership with the United Nations (UN), sponsored by the Banco do Brasil Foundation and Sebrae, and supported by the Ministry of Women and the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture (MDA).