THERE IS genuine demand for women-only agricultural training courses, according to the Scottish Crofting Federation, which suggested this week that objections raised by women already in the industry amounted to a bit of ‘pulling up the ladder’.

Responding to resistance to gender targeted training, SCF chief executive Patrick Krause said: “I know that it is a debateable issue. I have heard a first reaction that this is divisive or people question ‘why the focus on women; why have women-only events?’ Sadly, there are objections to the focus we are bringing on women in agriculture coming from successful women in agriculture; a bit of ‘pulling up the ladder’," he suggested.

“SCF recently ran a fencing course for women as this was what had been asked for by potential participants. It was oversubscribed by a long-shot. Women are asking for women-only training events; typical feedback we got was from a crofter from Torridon who enrolled for the course ‘because I wouldn’t be one woman edged to the side as a hobbyist. This strongly appeals to me as it is specifically for women’," he reported.

“The Farm Advisory Service is also answering demand in piloting a series of women-only events, and there are community-based initiatives doing the same. So I guess the question ‘why?’ is a good one to ask”.

Professor Sally Shortall, lead author of the study looking at women in agriculture in Scotland said: “The evidence is there that women are not taking up training opportunities for various reasons, including feeling that they are out of place, that they will be in the minority, that courses are not planned to be gender-appropriate, and others. Both men and women recognised the particular implications for women of not receiving practical training.

“Of course there are differing views on how to make agricultural training more inclusive of women. The taskforce will produce some guidance on this for training providers, including things like timing courses to fit in with other tasks; providing childcare, holding courses in suitable locations to reduce travel time and facilitating training to be more inclusive of women," said Prof Shortall.

“However, something that is widely asked for is women-only training courses so we recommend that training providers consider this. It is very encouraging that the Farm Advisory Service and Scottish Crofting Federation are making this provision in their training programmes.”