Mizoram woman left teaching for farming; now she is being honoured by UN
Z T Lalrithangi, a former teacher from Mizoram, India, has been recognized by the UN's FAO as one of 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems. She successfully transitioned from a failed job search to a thriving strawberry farming business.
Why it matters
Her story serves as an inspiring example of economic self-reliance and the potential for rural development through modern agricultural practices.
When Z T Lalrithangi finished her studies, she was looking for a government job. She appeared for several competitive examinations, hoping to find a secure career. But after repeated failures, the former private-school teacher began asking herself whether a government job was really the only way to build a livelihood.“I thought a government job should not be my only focus to earn a living, as there are other ways to have a good income if a person really works hard,” Lalrithangi said, according to a PTI report.Today, the 35-year-old from Sangau in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district is preparing to travel to Rome after being selected among the FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development, an initiative being held as part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 by United Nations.
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