Farming Connect recently launched a new pan-Wales recruitment campaign to encourage women working in food, farming or forestry in Wales to join one of its new regional ‘Women in Agriculture’ forums.
Eirwen Williams, director of rural programmes with Menter a Busnes, which delivers Farming Connect, which is funded by Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, said that each meeting will provide a unique opportunity for women working in the industry to get their voices heard and influence the future development of the agriculture industry in Wales.
Carmarthenshire-based solicitor and farmer Dr. Nerys Llewelyn Jones will facilitate all three events where she hopes to build on the momentum from the ‘post-Brexit’ workshops she ran at the recent fully-subscribed Farming Connect Women in Agriculture forum at Llanelwedd.
“More than 60 delegates at that event expressed interest in joining the new regional forums, so we already have sufficient interest to create dynamic, agricultural, all-women networks.
“This will encourage even more women directly involved in the food, farming or forestry sectors in Wales to consider the options, to vocalise their opinions and to make their priorities known in order to influence the rural agenda at this very important time, when Wales needs a strong voice,” said Mrs Williams.
“We intend future meetings to be arranged at a time and in a format to suit the women taking part, so appointing spokespeople, agreeing topics for discussion or guest speakers, and deciding on the format and frequency of future meetings will be up to attendees.
“Farming Connect will work closely with each forum and facilitate a mechanism for ensuring outcomes and opinions are fed directly back to Welsh Government.” said Mrs. Williams
If you would like join the new Women in Agriculture network, please contact Carys Thomas on 01970 631402 or e-mail carys.thomas@menterabusnes.co.uk.