In the framework of 8M, we spoke with Verónica Fernández, who reflected on the commemoration of International Women's Day and their participation in agriculture.
How do you think the role of women in the agricultural sector, which has always been considered a male-dominated sector, has changed in recent years?
«A few years ago it was difficult for women to perform all the functions in agriculture, today the situation is changing positively, with women playing an important role and achieving great progress that has been produced for their benefit in the last 10 years.
Today there are more opportunities, more women in the field, more agricultural entrepreneurs in the dairy, livestock, and fruit growing sectors who have gained their space, spaces that must be consolidated and generate others for those who come with a lot of interest in the sector..
«Women have shown that they have different qualities in leadership compared to men, in an area that is predominantly male. We are generating changes in this, a little slowly to break this traditional male model, but progress is being made. Women have been taking on a smaller role and in tasks that are not yet at the same level of leadership as men, having the necessary knowledge and skills, demonstrating that this is a cultural issue rather than a matter of competencies.»
From your role in the GTT Foundation, how has this journey been and what do you think is your greatest contribution?
«In our Foundation we have had some detractors but, fortunately, the majority accepts with great respect a more active participation of women within each group. It has been shown that the GTT are strengthened since women and men working together complement each other's skills. Women have more developed soft skills, are more organized, detail-oriented, among others that allow us to complement each other».
«Since our foundation, one of our pillars has been to make women visible as a fundamental contribution to agriculture, along with taking our transfer beyond our groups, considering mainly women in family agriculture, first producers in general, generating different opportunities for participation in the sector, being people of fundamental change in agriculture. We must continue to promote the incorporation and role of women in the Chilean economy, beyond the speeches, good intentions and long-term policies subject to a bureaucracy that often stops us abruptly; there is still a long way to go.«.
«Act boldly to bring about change…change that is being achieved.
What do you think is the importance of women in the agricultural sector and, in particular, in the cherry industry?
«Most women in agriculture are taking on challenges, in dairy farms, livestock, but mainly in fruit farming, fulfilling fundamental roles, leading work teams at different scales. In fruit farming, more specific skills are required than in other areas, where management must be increasingly efficient, both in agroecology and in the sensitivity to empathize with different actors, the ability to deal with several issues at the same time.ez, capabilities that characterize us as women. This has allowed them to stand out and continue to show interest in the sector; we have important producers of blueberries, raspberries, cherries that have consolidated their productive activity with ups and downs, mainly the cherry producers have gone through very complicated times with their fruit in China, situations that some have been able to improve, always thinking about improving the quality of the fruit for an increasingly demanding market and new destinations. I must also highlight the great support, the great GTT spirit that exists in all the members of our foundation.«.
Finally, what message would you send to women who work in the agricultural sector in the context of this 8M?
«Since that fire that occurred on March 25, 1911, until today, today when we commemorate Women's Day, I would especially like to give a huge thank you to women in agriculture. Since then, there have been many advances for women in general, who we find in national instances with a voice and vote, with a percentage of over 40 percent of the population, earning even less than men in equal conditions. Today is also time to recognize those men who have decided to share public and private spaces with women, creating great work teams, which has allowed new opportunities to open up for other women. A big hug to all women in agriculture on their day with much gratitude for the role they are generating in our sector, being a necessary agent of change.
