Interests and policies for becoming farmers: The case of young women farmers in Greece

EU's setting up (young farmers) incentives provide a good opportunity for young people up to 40 years old to acquire private property and thus establish and operate their own farms. For young women property ownership and becoming a farmer is, in addition, an opportunity to strengthen their position in the farming household and their image as a farmer. The present paper uses data collected in the Western Macedonia region, Greece, in the framework of a wider study on "Employment and gender equality in the primary sector" in the region. The reasons for entering the programme, their managerial role, the production orientation and evolution of their farms as well as their views towards agriculture are examined. Research shows the persistence of the gendered management of farms along with trends for the further development of women's farms as well as the development of an ex-post positive attitude towards the programme and farming on the part of quite a number of women who entered the programme. A number of policy implications concerning the provision of appropriate information and advice as well as the training of young women in the Greek countryside aiming at strengthening their professionalisation are thus indicated.