Debate contribution: Women in Agriculture

Debate contribution by Mr John Blair on 11 March 2025.

MLA

Mr John Blair

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

11 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Women in Agriculture

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4855702

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Sinn Féin Members for bringing this important motion to the Chamber for discussion. The debate has been constructive, featured many insightful contributions and highlighted the urgent matter of women's under-representation in the agriculture sector. Members have shared alarming statistics, telling a story of missed potential and talent. Women have long been essential contributors to agriculture, yet their roles often go unacknowledged and their voices unheard. Addressing that reality cannot be achieved overnight, but we must start by making significant strides towards change and real progress. As we near the end of this vital debate, I will take a moment to reflect on some of the key points that Members made. After that, I will emphasise the importance of our amendment. The debate began with Áine Murphy proposing the motion and referencing the fact that women often spearhead development and yet remain under-represented. That very much set the tone for the debate. In proposing the amendment, my colleague Sian Mulholland spoke of the lack of access to opportunities and the training barriers. She pointed out that the participation of women in agriculture in her constituency of North Antrim is 9·8%. Michelle McIlveen spoke of the stereotype of the male farmer, despite the fact that women are often the glue that holds the farm set-up together. She spoke of historical structural barriers. Diana Armstrong said that the biggest challenge is getting the change in attitude that is required. Tellingly, she shared the voice of farmers' wives from her rural constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, quoting her constituent Vicki Byers. Patsy McGlone spoke about the UFU's Women in Agriculture programme, and there were contributions from other AERA Committee members including its Chair, Robbie Butler, although he was not speaking in that capacity, Tom Buchanan and Aoife Finnegan. As my colleague Sian Mulholland highlighted, the Alliance amendment underscores the importance of fostering strong relationships and open channels of communication between the Department, the agriculture sector and representative organisations. That collaboration is essential for implementing effective and enduring strategies that enhance female involvement and leadership in the industry. It is crucial that there is a role for representative bodies in that. The AERA Minister has taken steps to enhance female involvement in the sector, notably through the launch of the Farming for the Generations pilot scheme. In his response to the debate, he highlighted that scheme in particular, as well as other progress that has been made and progress that is planned. Importantly, our amendment underscores the fact that the Minister's goals cannot be achieved by the Minister or the Department acting alone. The active collaboration and participation from the agriculture sector that I spoke about is vital to that effort, facilitating a greater exchange of ideas and the sharing of resources and expertise. Although Alliance supports the motion, I hope that Members will support my party's amendment, as it will make the motion better suited to bringing about the systemic change that is necessary in order to amplify women's voices and to reinforce our dedication to a more inclusive future for the agriculture sector. It also acknowledges the responsibilities of partners and encourages their participation. I hope that, as we move forward, the House, as one, can support the motion and the amendment with one voice.

552 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.

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