Women farmers in the northwest have called on the Government "to level the playing field" in agriculture during a two-day event focused on the role women play in farming.
Donegal ACRES is bringing women farmers together to discuss their experiences in agriculture and to discuss the changes required for gender equality.
Event organiser Aileen Collery said: "Only 13% of women have land holder status in Ireland while over 58,000 women are involved in family farm practices, so we need to level the playing field for women. I think policy needs to change".
At the Forrest family farm in Churchill, Amy Forrest hopes to take over the running of the family farm in the future.
"Opportunities for women are increasing," Ms Forrest said.
The Donegal ACRES event heard discussions on the low number of female farm holders in the Irish farm sector and ways in which experiences and expertise can be shared.
Issues with herd numbers, access to finance and land were discussed.
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Emma Curran, a sheep farmer from northwest Donegal, said the event "gave an opportunity to have our opinions heard, which is important because we're working as hard as everybody else".
Success stories were shared. Gerard McDaid, Lecturer at the Atlantic Technological University Campus in Letterkenny, said that women comprised "60-70% of last year’s intake" into the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture course.
In a statement, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said he was "delighted to see the DAFM co-funded ACRES Donegal Co-Operation Project taking practical steps to promote and encourage female participation and increased equity for women in farming".
Minister McConalogue added that he is "committed to promoting and improving gender balance at all levels of the agri-food sector".
Ireland is one of two EU member states to include dedicated measures to support greater equality in its CAP Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027.
These measures include the introduction of a 60% TAMS grant rate for women farmers.
Earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture published a 12-point National Women in Agriculture Action Plan to support greater gender balance in the agri-food sector.
