Calls to encourage Clare women to farm

WOMEN are ‘vastly underrepresented’ on farms and increasing female involvement in the sector is a ‘must’, according to one Irish Farmers Association (IFA) presidential candidate.

IFA Presidential Candidate Francie Gorman has said the necessary support structures are not in place to encourage women to enter the farming industry.

Speaking before the IFA Presidential debate at the Inn at Dromoland in Newmarket-on-Fergus on Wednesday, October 4, Mr Gorman has called on the Department of Agriculture and farming organisations to “make decisions to increase the involvement of women” in farming.

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Mr. Gorman was reacting to CSO figures, which show that the percentage of women in the agriculture sector has halved in 10 years, which he says “are no surprise” to him. 

"While agriculture has always been a male-dominated industry, there is no doubt that women contribute hugely to agribusiness and in sustaining rural life in Clare and across the country,” Mr Gorman said.

“However, the support structure is not in place to facilitate their working lives while they are vastly underrepresented at decision-making levels in policymaking and in many farm organisations."

While there has been an overall increase in people working in Clare's agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors between 2011 (3,028) and 2021 (3,615), the percentage of women working in these areas decreased from 12% to 6% of the overall workforce.

“It is one thing to have so few women enter farming, but it's an entirely different and worrying development to see that Clare's agriculture sector now has fewer women represented in its workforce compared to 2011. 

“The IFA, as well as other farm organisations, must take decisions to increase the involvement of women in our sector,” stated Mr. Gorman. 

Mr Gorman believes that the Department of Agriculture should be at the ‘forefront’ of efforts to encourage female participation and recognition on farms. Gorman is one of two presidential candidates and is a suckler, beef and sheep farmer from Ballinakill, County Laois.