For the first time ever, a representative from Kazakhstan Aizhan Rymbayeva has been included in the list of the world’s top young agricultural journalists, according to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ), reports infotabigat.kz.
The prestigious Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism award was presented to ten journalists from Australia, Argentina, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Kenya, Liberia, the United States, and, for the first time, Kazakhstan during the IFAJ World Congress, held from October 15-18 in Nairobi, Kenya. The congress brought together participants from more than 30 countries.
For over two decades, the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has run the Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism program, aimed at supporting and developing young professionals in agricultural media. Each year, ten talented journalists from around the globe are selected for their professionalism, innovative approach, and commitment to covering key issues in agriculture and food security.
Winners of the program take part in an intensive educational course, attend the annual IFAJ Congress, exchange experiences with colleagues from different countries, and contribute to the growth of the global agricultural journalism community.
IFAJ President Steve Werblow highlighted the importance of Kazakhstan’s participation in the program:
“We’re delighted to welcome Aizhan to the Young Leaders program. This is a wonderful opportunity for her and her colleagues to share experiences and be recognized for their achievements in journalism. It’s especially inspiring that she represents Kazakhstan — a country not yet formally part of the IFAJ. We hope her involvement will pave the way toward creating a Kazakh community within the federation,”
said Steve Werblow.
The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) is a global professional organization that unites journalists covering agriculture, food systems, and rural development. Founded in 1956 and based in the Netherlands, the federation brings together national associations from over 50 countries, promoting high professional standards, information exchange, and independent agricultural journalism worldwide.
Currently, Kazakhstan is not yet a member of the federation. However, Aizhan Rymbayeva aims to change that by uniting local colleagues to establish a Kazakh Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
“Since 2022, I’ve been a member of the Turkish Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Writers, as there is no similar association in Kazakhstan yet. It’s a great honor for me to become the first Kazakh journalist to receive this international recognition. But it’s not just an honor — it’s a responsibility. I’m now working to create a professional community of agricultural journalists in Kazakhstan so that our country can also be represented in the IFAJ, like many others. I invite fellow journalists to join this initiative so we can develop this field together,”
shared Aizhan Rymbayeva.
Aizhan has been working in agricultural journalism since 2020. During the pandemic, she launched the media project “Go Ferma”, dedicated to people working in the agricultural sector. The platform features stories about women farmers in Kazakhstan, the impact of climate change on agriculture, and young professionals in the industry.
She also visits farms abroad, sharing insights from other countries with her Kazakh audience.
You can reach Aizhan Rymbayeva through her Instagram page: @go_ferma