Former agriculture minister Mary Coughlan will chair a Women in Agriculture Conference in February 2023.
Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, who initiated the event says there are "unacceptable cultural barriers" still in place that are preventing women from taking over farms.
Meanwhile, just 13% of farm holders in Ireland are female and Minister McConalogue highlighted how that needs to change. Speaking on this morning's Joe Finnegan Show, the Minister said a 60% grant will be made available to female farmers in the next CAP budget.
He says he wants to see change and ensure equality in the industry. "We have small to medium sized farms in this country; they are not large corporations like it is in so many countries - it is based on the family farm.
"That is a very positive thing in relation to our agricultural model - you have everyone on the farm chipping in and it's very much part of the family. People want to hand it down to those who are interested, whether that be a son or daughter.
"I also want to ensure that we keep that family farm aspect and ensure that a daughter or niece in the family is regarded as being as worthy an inheritor or farmer as the males," he added.
