The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has launched an online survey to learn more about barriers preventing women from taking leadership roles in agriculture.
“We have to fully understand the situation before we can take steps towards improving women’s access to leadership and business opportunities in agriculture,” said CAHRC executive director Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst in a release.
Both women and men are invited to complete the 15-minute survey available at cahrc-ccrha.ca, which will be open until November 30.
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“We are equally interested in hearing from men in agriculture in this survey as they are the other side of the equation,” says MacDonald-Dewhirst. “The understanding must be mutual before we can develop effective solutions.”
The project involves a comprehensive assessment of the current situation facing women aspiring to senior management and executive positions in agriculture by collaborating with project partner organizations and others within the CAHRC network. Using a gender lens, the assessment will explore the contribution of women to the industry, the barriers they experience, prioritize options for improvements, and assess the effectiveness of current services.
The information collected will be used to develop programs and resources to assist women in agriculture as well as agricultural employers, organizations and training institutions to strengthen access to leadership opportunities and business success for women working in agriculture.
