MORE MUST be done here to improve the representation of women in the decision-making process for agriculture and rural policy, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers conference in Dublin has been told.
Mary Sherry, chairwoman of the farm family and social affairs committee of the Irish Farmers’ Association, told delegates that Irish women were also under represented in farm ownership, despite playing a vital role in the workforce.
“In Ireland, of our 126,000 farm owners almost 13,000 . . . are female. At the same time, 37,000 women or another 30 per cent work on their family farms,” she said. “Representation by females in agricultural policy is increasing in Ireland. In the last government, Ireland had its first female minister for agriculture,” she said.
“More must be done however, to improve the representation of women in the decision-making process for agricultural and rural policy. Women are more likely to participate if the policy agenda is seen as relevant to them,” she said.
“Key to this is the realisation that farm family issues are not just a female concern. In most countries, health and education policy are amongst the highest areas of public expenditure.
“One of our challenges is to ensure that farm families have equal access to these policies and that we are not disadvantaged by our rural locations,” she added.
“Neither are commodity and pricing issues solely a male concern. The objective should be to establish a real partnership between women and men.”
She said there were no legal or other barriers to women entering farming, but said farming as a full-time career for women is still not an attractive option, possibly due to its physical nature, and the tradition of passing the family farm from father to son.
“There is a need to provide equal opportunity for young women who wish to choose farming as a career and to change the mindsets of those who are passing on the family farm,” Ms Sherry added.
The conference, being held in Dublin Castle, will focus this week on declining farm commodity prices, globalisation, anti-competitive behaviour of supermarkets and global warming and the need for sustainability.
The delegates from 40 countries who also represent young and women farming groups, will be addressed later today by Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith.