The field remains dominated by men in many places, yet the Valencian Community is renowned for its livestock and the leadership roles women increasingly hold. In observance of International Rural Women’s Day on October 15, the visible gap in the job hierarchy is acknowledged: women are still underrepresented in positions of authority while men occupy most senior roles. A plan presented by the Ministry of Agriculture outlines a broader strategy to boost rural women in the Valencian Community for 2023-2026, noting that only 13.41% of women participate in agricultural cooperatives, even though they are the majority in fruit and vegetable marketing warehouses and hold directives in some cooperatives. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture)
In total, women comprise more than 50,000 individuals across 261 agri-food cooperatives, including 45,684 cooperative members, 8,607 workers, 184 council members, and 35 directives. A Ministry of Agriculture study confirms that while the presence of women in agriculture has grown, their share remains lower than that of men, particularly among entrepreneurs. The ministry notes that although there has been progress in Valencia, equality in leadership is still far from proportional to membership numbers. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture)
Nearly seven in ten municipalities in the Valencian Community are rural, numbering 376, yet rural residents account for only about 11% of the population, roughly 275,245 people, with women representing 49%. Demographic trends in these towns show population aging, slower growth, and a worrying exodus of young women from the workforce. The study highlights a lack of generational change that could affect rural vitality. (Source: Regional demographic study)
Investment of 135 million euros from the Ministry
In response to these findings, regional authorities acted. The Minister of Agriculture presented 83 actions as part of the Community of Valencia’s plan to promote rural women and the agri-food system for 2023-2026. The initiative allocates more than 135 million euros to recognize, accompany, educate, and empower rural women. The plan includes targeted support for agri-food projects led by women and aims to increase their participation in economic sectors, unions, professional associations, and decision-making bodies. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture)
The regional administration emphasizes actions designed to curb migration by reinforcing women as a decisive force in promoting rural development. The plan highlights figures showing the need for introductory programs: the rural masculinization rate in Valencia sits about 10 percentage points higher than the regional average, and women are often concentrated in housekeeping and caregiving roles, which places them lower in the job hierarchy while men occupy more senior positions. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture)
Across Spain, the situation mirrors Valencia’s. A Funcas analysis shows that of roughly 740,000 people employed in agriculture, about 177,000 are women, equating to 31 women for every 100 men. Since the 2008 financial crisis, male prominence in farming and livestock has grown. The ratio of women to men in agriculture across regions such as Asturias and Cantabria is around 70 to 100, while Murcia and Extremadura, regions with high agricultural activity, report 34 and 10 women per 100 men respectively. (Source: Funcas study)
Lourdes Falcó, president of the La Vall d’Uixó cooperative and a member of the Spanish Association of Women in Agri-Food Cooperatives (AMCAE), stands among Valencia’s few women in leadership within the sector. She oversees a cooperative with 11,000 members, about half of whom are women, and a payroll of 30 permanent staff with 29 temporary workers. In commenting on International Rural Women’s Day, she calls the date a pivotal moment to advance policies and actions that support women’s inclusion in cooperative life, management, and decision-making. The Valencia Plan for the Promotion of Rural Women is seen as a positive step toward broadening women’s participation across multiple areas of governance and cooperative growth. (Source: AMCAE statement)