ASAJA Alicante believes that the main tasks of agriculture in the coming years will be to protect the profitability of producers, encourage the renewal of generations and promote the final inclusion of women in the field on an equal basis with men. In fact, he argues that it is essential that growers’ incomes and profitability grow in order to encourage and encourage young people and women to lead agriholdings.
In this sense, the association, which advocates the rights of farmers and ranchers in the province, defends the role of women in the primary sector and advocates gender equality, rejecting any kind of sexist violence or wage discrimination, economic or social.
As part of these goals, ASAJA Mujeres Alicante held this weekend in the municipality of Lliber a training on equality and the empowerment of rural women, led by family therapist Maite Muño. At the meeting, which was attended by about a hundred people, the vast majority of whom were women, the president of the women’s sector of the province of Alicante, Tere Anton; ASAJA Elche President Pedro Valero, Equality Adviser Susana McAllister and José Miguel Reus representing Lliber City Council.
“There is no doubt that we have made progress in realizing the two concepts that are in the spotlight today: equality and empowerment. Despite this, there are still disparities between men and women, both in terms of wages and in leadership positions, in caring for the home, children and dependent people. The expert believes that such a situation affects the image of a woman about herself and, as a result, her self-esteem.
HEADS OF AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS GROWED BY 22% AND AMOUNT ALREADY 28% OF THE TOTAL VOLUME, AND PROPERTY IN THE FARMS ALSO GROWED.
For her part, Tere Anton, president of ASAJA Mujeres, noted the fact that more and more women are running farms and making decisions on the ground, and this fact is closely related to professionalization and training. “We meet agronomists, veterinarians, economists, businesswomen and professionals from other fields who are eager to step up, become managers and leave behind the taboos that have weighed on us for decades.”
The National Institute of Statistics notes that over the past decade, the number of female farm managers has grown by 22% and now makes up 28% of the total. Farm ownership has also increased, and there are even more women in advisory or quality services.
However, ASAJA argues that there is still a long way to go in this area: first, the belief that farming or animal husbandry is “a man’s business” must be finally destroyed. Historically, the male gender has been at the forefront of the work in the fields, and the woman has remained in the background, very important, but in its shadow, helping with planting, harvesting, packaging products and, probably, the first to experience and appreciate the fruits and vegetables produced before them. sales. But the time has come to take a decisive step and give up this role, stop being a mere comrade and become the leader of their agricultural exploitation.
Secondly, ASAJA Mujeres believes that “if income and profitability in this area increase, we will have more women entrepreneurs.”
As relevant data, Anton confirmed that organic farming in the Valencian Community creates solutions for generational change and the inclusion of women in the sector. “We recently learned from the annual report of the Organic Agriculture Committee of the Valencian Community that 30% of CAECV certified organic producers are women. This fact means that in two years there has been an increase in the number of women. environmental sector – 26%”.