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Programme Rationale
Spearheaded by Fermanagh District Partnership and led by a Steering Group consisting of individuals across a range of local voluntary and statutory organisations with a remit for, or specific interest in, rural development within the county, and delivered by a full-time Programme Co-ordinator.
Motivated by a need to alleviate some of the difficulties experienced within the farming community in Fermanagh, and a need to recognise and value the contribution of those women engaged in this sector whose needs have traditionally been overlooked in development initiatives. The rationale for the programme was rooted in a clear need to provide recognition for, and credence to, the significant role played, and contribution made, by women engaged in the agricultural industry and a need to address the difficulties of viability and sustainability of farms within the community.
It is within this context and rationale that the overriding objective for the Women in Agriculture programme was defined as:
- TARGET GROUP As the programme title would suggest, the programme was developed specifically to target women directly involved and engaged in the farming community within County Fermanagh. However, a clear remit for the programme was set out in its development stages as identifying and targeting women within this community who had not, as yet, had an active role within local community and/or rural development or within women's groups in the area.
- STATUS Women in Agriculture became a Limited Company by Guarantee with Charitable Status in August 2003.
- EVALUATION Women in Agriculture are targeting farmwomen and farm families in the new programme's 2003-06.
Fermanagh Farming Facts
- Farms in Fermanagh represent 12% of the NI total, however Farm Income is only 69% of the NI average.
- Whilst 1 in 5 farms in NI are classified as Medium to Large, only 1 in 15 farms are of this size in Fermanagh.
- Over 9 in every 10 farms in County Fermanagh are based in a Severely Disadvantaged Area/Lesser Favoured Area