A representation of Asaja Córdoba has taken part in the V National Congress of Asaja Mujeres, held last Wednesday in Cuenca, an event that has brought together about 200 attendees who arrived from different parts of Spain. The meeting has focused its attention on highlighting the role of women in the countryside, generational renewal, and the urgency of facilitating their presence in the spaces where decisions are made that set the direction for the agricultural sector.
As Asaja has pointed out in a statement, the participation of the Córdoba delegation in this forum has provided the opportunity to exchange experiences and to learn first-hand about projects aimed at strengthening female entrepreneurship and helping young women remain in towns. These aspects are considered key to ensuring the future of agriculture and livestock farming in the province.
At the inauguration, the president of Asaja Mujeres, Blanca Corroto, emphasized that one of the organization’s essential goals is "to build a national network" of women linked to the countryside that helps to give visibility to their work and to open new avenues for development. "If you don’t put down roots in the rural environment, in the end the towns get abandoned," she stressed.
Along these lines, Corroto has unveiled a project aimed at enabling young women to remain in their localities, to drive their own business initiatives, and to develop their life project in the rural environment. She also highlighted the efforts of those who, for generations, have combined agricultural tasks with caring for their families without receiving the recognition they deserve.
On the other hand, the president of Asaja Castilla-La Mancha and of Asaja Cuenca, José María Fresneda, has called for cooperation between women and men as an essential element for the progress of family-run holdings. "Together, they pull the cart forward of their family holding," he pointed out.
The congress program has given a voice to farmers and livestock breeders from various regions, who have shared their experience leading pig farming, extensive beef cattle, and vineyards, highlighting both the opportunities and the obstacles faced by women who start businesses in the agricultural sector. Throughout the day, issues such as collective bargaining and measures to protect women in the wine and spirits sector were also discussed.
The closing session has been chaired by the national president of Asaja, Pedro Barato, who has described rural women as "the backbone of the countryside and the rural world". In addition, Barato has demanded greater recognition of their contribution and real participation in the governing bodies of agricultural organizations, in cooperatives and in municipal corporations.
Likewise, he has called for strengthened support in matters of Social Security, taxation, and shared ownership, with the aim of advancing the professional recognition of women and facilitating both their entry into and their staying in agricultural activity.
The 5th National Congress of Asaja Women has had the sponsorship of the Provincial Council of Cuenca, AgroBank and the Interalimentary Forum, as well as the collaboration of Asaja Nacional, Asaja Toledo and Asaja Cuenca.