Sorca Clarke
Question:277. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagements he has had with his Cabinet colleagues to support and encourage women farmers. [11764/23]
View answerWednesday, 8 March 2023
Questions (277)
Written answers
At a European level the number of women in farming has been slowly increasing. 2016 data suggests that, on average, around 30% of farms across the EU are managed by a woman, but with some considerable differences between Member States. The Census of Agriculture 2020 reported that just 13% of farm holders in Ireland are female.
I am very pleased that, for the first time, Ireland’s new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 includes specific measures aimed at increasing the participation of women in farming. Ireland’s CSP, which will deliver some €10 billion to farm families over the next five years, includes innovative proposals to promote gender equality, including:
- An increased grant rate of 60% under the Capital Investment Scheme to fund investments by trained women farmers.
- The promotion of women-only Knowledge Transfer Groups.
- Improved recording and reporting of gender data and the leveraging of the National CAP Network to increase the involvement of all women in the implementation of CAP.
- All CAP interventions will be developed with a gender-aware perspective to ensure there are no inherent barriers to women's participation.
- European Innovation Partnerships offer an ideal opportunity for the sector to develop initiatives that will promote women's participation in farming.
In addition, since 2015, the Department has provided support for rural female entrepreneurs under the ACORNS programme. This initiative involves the development and implementation of a tailored programme to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland.
Food Vision 2030, our shared 10 year strategy for the agri-food sector, recognises the importance of gender equality to its long-term sustainability and includes actions to promote and improve gender balance.
One of those actions was to hold a National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture, which I hosted on 1st February this year, St Brigid's Day. The Dialogue was chaired by former Tánaiste and Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, and it examined gender issues in the sector generally via discussion panels, guest speakers and workshops on themes including: Leadership and Visibility; Education and Awareness; Sustainability; and Legal and Financial matters. The outcome of the discussions will be compiled into a report that will inform policy in this regard in the coming years. This will be strengthened by a specific research project on women’s participation in agriculture, and ongoing engagement with stakeholders.
I look forward to making further progress on this important issue and will continue to update my Cabinet colleagues in this regard.