Although women have been a key element of farming operations in both Poland and Europe for centuries, the public debate is still dominated by the stereotype that agriculture is primarily a male domain. The Agro Woman initiative aims to make running a business in agriculture more attractive for women.
Women play a crucial role in French agriculture, often being the driving force behind development and innovation. However, there are still some disparities and differences in their professional status. This situation is gradually improving, thanks in part to the efforts of the French administration, both at the national level, including the work of the Senate committee for gender equality, and at the local level, where women are increasingly represented in the governing bodies of agricultural chambers.
Strengthening the role of women in the agricultural sector, supporting entrepreneurship, and promoting women’s leadership in farms, organizations, and the business world are actions that reflect our Embassy’s commitment to implementing public policy on gender equality. Therefore, I am pleased to extend the patronage of the French Embassy in Poland to the Agro Woman initiative.
– said Etienne de Poncins, Ambassador of France to Poland.
Every fourth farm in France is managed by women, who make up 26.2% of farm heads and 5.1% of agricultural business heads. According to data from 2021, a total of 29.5% of farms and agricultural businesses were managed or co-managed by at least one woman. The average age of women serving as farm or business heads in France is 51.
The goal of the Agro Woman initiative is to make women’s work in agriculture more appealing and to support them through substantive education in finance, business management, foreign languages, and the development of soft skills. This activity responds to changing social expectations. In Poland, despite the significant role of women in agriculture, the sector is still perceived as a male domain. In reality, a significant portion of farms in Poland are run by women – either independently or jointly, they manage one-third of the farms in the country.
The initiative aims to support and promote the role of women, so that a career in agriculture is attractive, fulfilling, and allows them to achieve their own ambitions while delivering appropriate economic outcomes, matching their skills and commitment.
– emphasized Małgorzata Bojańczyk and Karolina Tarnawska, co-founders of Agro Woman.
The initiative’s patrons also include the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Warsaw and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Warsaw. The substantive patron of the initiative is the Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences.