Aizawl: Mizoram Horticulture Minister C. Lalsawivunga felicitated strawberry farmer ZT Lalrithangi on Sunday after she was named one of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development.
Lalrithangi, from Sangau village in Lawngtlai district, received the international recognition at the World Food Forum 2026 at FAO headquarters in Rome on October 16.
At the felicitation ceremony at his office in the Mizoram New Capital Complex, Aizawl, Lalsawivunga said her achievement showed that people from Mizoram could make their mark internationally. He said her recognition was a source of pride for the state and expressed hope that her journey would inspire other Mizo women.
The minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and improving their livelihoods.
Lalrithangi, 38, holds a master’s degree in sociology and lives in Sangau with her husband, F. Zabiakliana, and their three children. She began growing strawberries after seeing successful cultivation in other parts of Mizoram and deciding to introduce the crop in Lawngtlai.
She started with 1,000 strawberry runners bought with her savings and sought guidance from the Horticulture Department on cultivation and farm management.
The department, along with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, the Agricultural Technology Management Agency and the Agriculture Department, later supported her with polythene mulch, drip irrigation and water-harvesting tanks.
In June 2026, Lalrithangi was named Lawngtlai district’s Best Farmer at the Mizoram Horticulture Fair.
The FAO honour followed a selection process that drew more than 600 nominations from 131 countries. India submitted around 20 nominations, with Lalrithangi and Maharashtra’s Priyanka Mahesh Shelke selected for the recognition.
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