Farming women with an interest in establishing or expanding a business got plenty to think about at the West Women in Farming’s (WWIF) Farm Diversification conference, which took place at the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) last week.

A panel of 23 speakers covered everything from funding and marketing, to legal and tax advice, along with the wide range of State supports that can be accessed.

This practical advice was backed up with the personal stories of six women who have established businesses, including Grace Roche of Pretty Bird farm wear and Ann Madden of Goat Ireland.

Dr Maura Farrell addressing West Women in Farming’s Farm Diversification conference.

According to research completed by the Natural Rural Network in 2010, it is estimated that 27% of the agricultural workforce are female and this equates to 70,000 women. Many of these are well educated and interested in farm diversification.

Chief sponsor of the conference was Co Galway Credit Unions. Four CU’s in the county – Ballinasloe, Gort, Loughrea and Tuam are spearheading ‘Cultivate’, which is a farm and small business lending scheme.

L-R: Emer Smith, Margaret Loughnane, David McDonnell, Bernie Diskin, Shona O’Sullivan, Cathrina Cunnane, Ciara Shields and Martina Calvey.

According to David McDonnell, manager of Loughrea CU, €5m has been lent to 480 farmer clients to the end of 2017, with the average loan coming in at €12,000.

Founding member of WWIF, Martina Calvey of Achill Lamb said the conference was all about supporting and encouraging women who want to diversify on-farm: “Women are natural entrepreneurs and we want to support them in anyway we can.’

Listen to Mairead speaking with Martina Calvey, founding member of West Women in Farming; Dr Maura Farrelly, Head of Rural Sustainability at NUIG and Orla Casey, Momentum Consulting at the conference.

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