The activity of women in family agricultural enterprises: A first approach to the regions of Osona and Gironès

Abstract

Given the scarcity of information on female employment in agriculture available in official statistics, it is necessary to complement research through field work. This study is based on 17 comprehensive interview/questionnaires carried out on women actively occupied on medium to small family farms in the Osona and Girona areas, where mixed arable and pastoral farming predominate. The saple is not statistically representative, but serves to demonstrate the invisible work carried out and scarcely recognized, even by the women themselves. The contribution of the women interviewed represents between 25% and 50 % of the total income of each farm, whilst participation levels and contribution to income are inversely proportioned to farm size.