More women pursuing farming careers: Teagasc

From two female students enrolled five years ago, the number of women choosing the level-5 Certificate in Agriculture has increased to 13 starting the Green Cert course earlier this month at the Teagasc Kildalton College in south Kilkenny, of a 127 total enrolled on this course (up 50% from last year).

The Teagasc Education Vision report highlighted the low rate of female graduates in further education on Teagasc programmes.

This contrasts with Quality and Qualification Ireland (QQI) data indicating about 51% of all further education awards are to females.

Kildalton College has championed female graduates.

The recent increase in female enrolment is an indication of more women pursuing a farming career.

College Principal Tim Ashmore highlighted the diverse backgrounds of the female students, from the bordering counties of Kilkenny, Wexford, Tipperary and Waterford, but also come from Clare, Offaly, Laois and Wicklow.

The majority of the female students come from a farm.

Mr Ashmore welcomed three students who do not come from a farm.

These first-year students join students from other agriculture, equine and horticulture courses, and more than 400 WIT agriculture, agricultural science, horticulture, forestry and food science students who come to Kildalton weekly as part of their degree programmes.

In total, more than 1,200 students will study land-based courses at Kildalton this academic year.

Mr Ashmore encouraged anyone interested in a career in agriculture, equine or horticulture to attend the College open day on Friday, October 4.