Macra president Elaine Houlihan has confirmed that the organisation ceased its membership of the Women in Agriculture Stakeholder Group (WASG).
Houlihan said Macra now wants to focus on its own internal women in agriculture working group which has been in operation since its annual general meeting (AGM) in May 2023.
Speaking to Agriland about the exit, the Macra president said the organisation feels that “it’s better for us to focus on [our own] group and drive that agenda forward”.
Houlihan said Macra’s internal women in agriculture working group, at the moment, is “trying to get the boots on the ground” and engage in the “educational side of things”.
The decision to cease its membership of the WASG was recently made by the board of Macra during the organisation’s latest board meeting, Houlihan told Agriland.
“I wish the group every success with the formation of their cooperative and I have no doubt both groups will continue to advance the position of women in Irish agriculture,” she said.
Women in Agriculture Stakeholder Group
The WASG is an independent and voluntary body made up of representatives from Irish farming organisations to represent the interests of women in farming under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The group previously advocated for the 60% grant for female farmers under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) and female-only knowledge transfer groups.
Members of the WASG include representatives from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA), the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), and the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA).