'Social and cultural barriers' to women’s participation in agriculture

“Today, on International Women’s Day, I want to fully recognise their contribution both on the farm but also within their rural communities."

Around 27% of the nearly 280,000 people working on farms in Ireland are female. Of the more than 130,000 farmholders, only 13% are female.

There are a "number of social and cultural barriers" to women’s participation in agriculture in Ireland that need to be addressed.

Marking International Women’s Day 2024, Irish Farmers' Association farm family and social affairs chairwoman Teresa Roche said that she wants to acknowledge the "important contribution" of women in agriculture.