World Food Day (16 October) and the International Day of Rural Women (15 October) are two meaningful occasions that share a common message: food is not just nourishment, it is a gift rooted in care, wisdom, and respect. And behind this gift, in the Slovak rural areas and far beyond, stand countless women as silent heroines who nurture the land, preserve traditions, and sustain communities every single day.
Simply put: food brings people together, and women keep the rural areas alive.
A Celebration with a Message
This year’s celebration was especially significant, marking not only these twin international days but also the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, an organisation built on the vision of peace, cooperation, and solidarity, values we need now more than ever.
On 17 October, this shared message came to life with over 120 participants in Župčany, a picturesque village in eastern Slovakia and birthplace of writer, journalist, and theologian Jonáš Záborský. His timeless reflections “The greatest wealth of the nation are people” and “Who works for the good of others will die unforgotten” echoed through the 24th annual “Rural Woman – Leader of the Year” conference organised by the Slovak Rural Parliament and partners.
Since 2002, the event “Women for Wagons as well as for Carriage” has celebrated the strength and creativity of rural women. Each of this year’s laureates embodies the spirit of perseverance, leadership, and love for rural life that keeps Slovakia’s countryside vibrant.
The Living Fabric of the Slovak Rural Areas
More than half of Slovakia’s population lives in rural areas. These are not only the landscapes where our food originates, grain for bread, fruit from orchards, cheese and milk from meadows, and wine from sunny slopes, but also the cradle of our culture, identity, and heritage.
Yet rural life faces challenges: an ageing population, outmigration of youth, bureaucratic hurdles, and market pressures that undervalue local products. Still, within these challenges lie opportunities: to grow agritourism, strengthen the bioeconomy, and promote short food chains that link producers directly with consumers.
Women: Carriers of Tradition and Innovation
In Slovakia, as elsewhere, women are the custodians of traditions and values that hold families and communities together. They manage farms, run family guesthouses, create local products, and bring fresh ideas that revitalise rural economies.
Evidence shows that empowering women through access to education, land, and resources benefits entire communities. Strengthening their role means bolstering food security, social cohesion, and local innovation.
Across the country, inspiring examples abound:
- Family farms and guesthouses in mountain regions merge agritourism with environmental stewardship.
- Farmers’markets and community-supported agriculture shorten supply chains and foster urban-rural trust.
- Digital tools, such as those developed through the PoliRuralPlus project, support participatory planning and empower women and youth to shape their regions’ futures.
A Shared Vision for the Future
To ensure that the Slovak rural areas continue to thrive, we must act together.
Four priorities stand out:
- Support young farmers through easier access to land, finance, and knowledge.
- Shorten food chains to make fresh, high-quality, seasonal Slovak products more accessible.
- Boost digitalisation and innovation—leveraging modern tools, including AI, for smarter agriculture and territorial planning.
- Bridge urban and rural areas to foster cooperation, fair prices, and mutual respect.
Our common vision is a lively rural areas where young people choose to stay, where innovation meets tradition, where women and men build resilient communities together, and where local Slovak food remains the foundation of a healthy, sustainable life.
Keeping the Vision Alive
Future of food, land, and life itself lies in our hands. By recognising and empowering the women at the heart of our rural areas, we invest in a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient Slovakia today and for generations to come.
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