Women still under-represented in farming
The numbers are growing, but women are still under-represented in farming.
Thursday was International Women’s Day, and the National Farmers Union (NFU) used the occasion to highlight the work of female farmers and their increasing role as industry leaders. Coral Sproule, NFU President, said it’s important to encourage more women to try their hands on Canadian farms.
“I think we would always like to have more women farming,” Sproule told paNOW. “We would always like to have more equity and equality.”
A recent Statistics Canada study showed women made up 28.7 per cent of Canadian farmers in 2016. In 2011, that number was 27.4 per cent. Despite the growth, Sproule said some women still face barriers in the sector.