Debate contribution: Women in Agriculture

Debate contribution by Miss Áine Murphy on 11 March 2025.

MLA

Miss Áine Murphy

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

11 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Women in Agriculture

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4855637

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I beg to move

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I welcome the opportunity to propose the motion. Historically, women have played a central role in our rural landscapes, working on farms, running businesses and spearheading community development, all while doing most of the domestic labour and having caring responsibilities at home. Agriculture is the backbone of our rural communities and a cornerstone of our economy. Despite their invaluable contribution, women remain under-represented in farm ownership, decision-making positions and leadership roles in the agri-food industry. Women face structural and cultural barriers that limit their full participation in agriculture. Daughters are often overlooked as potential inheritors of family farms, and, without land ownership, women struggle to access the financial resources that are necessary to initiate, innovate, expand or even sustain their agriculture activities. According to government statistics, only 5% of registered principal farmers are women and only 4% of participants in business development groups are women. There are glimmers of hope, however. Some 53% of students in higher education agriculture courses are women. The interest and ability is there, so we now just need to harness it in the agriculture industry. Studies have shown that gender diversity in leadership results in better decision-making, increased productivity and greater innovation. By empowering women in agriculture, we can unlock the full potential of our rural economy and ensure the sustainability of the sector for generations to come. This year's theme for International Women's Day was "Accelerate action", calling on us to drive gender equality through bold, decisive actions. The status quo needs to be challenged, as do the systemic barriers that hold back half our population. It is our responsibility as legislators to champion policies that will empower women. The need is even more pressing when we consider the incentives for female entrepreneurs and farmers in the South of Ireland. Since 2014, the ACORNS programme has been helping rural female business owners to establish and grow their enterprise. After the Women in Agriculture conference in 2023, a 12-point action plan was produced, and efforts are under way to achieve 40% female representation on state boards related to agriculture. Support needs to be provided for women when it comes to farm succession and land ownership. We also need to develop funding streams for women-led agriculture businesses. We need to ensure that women have access to the necessary training and mentorship programmes, and that those programmes fit around their many, often competing, responsibilities. Decisive action is required in order to increase female representation in farming organisations. Targeted leadership programmes could help rectify the imbalance. Fundamentally, we need to challenge outdated cultural attitudes and make women's representation in agriculture the norm rather than the exception. The motion is not only about fairness but about using all the tools at our disposal to secure the innovation and sustainability goals that our agrisector must meet to survive. We need to empower women to help lead and shape that change. Thankfully, my experience on the farm is one of positivity. For years, my uncle's farm has been a hub of activity, where all my cousins and I congregate to help out. Thankfully, we still do, particularly over grass season. From mowing and bailing in the summer months to calving, lambing, foddering and more, my interest was fostered and encouraged. As we look to the future, let us acknowledge that women in agriculture are not just supporting farming but leading it. By breaking down barriers, by providing better access to resources and by encouraging young women to pursue a career in agriculture, we can build a more diverse, sustainable and thriving industry.

602 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:15 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification