Taranaki farming women are among the latest graduates of a national programme to increase profitability and productivity in the red meat sector through building farming partnerships.
Developed and delivered by the Agri-Women's Development Trust (AWDT), Understanding Your Farming Business (UYFB) empowers women to view themselves and their farming roles differently, while building their technical and communication skills.
The four-month programme is funded by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP), a Primary Growth Partnership programme, which coordinates sheep and beef industry and government efforts to develop, test and introduce new ideas, technology and ways of working.
Following the success of the UYFB pilot in 2014 and a national RMPP-funded rollout to 140 women last year, the programme has been extended to reach another 240 women in 14 regions this year.
"This targeted development of women in sheep and beef farming partnerships is designed to increasing profitability and strengthen the farming partnership, giving farmers more control over their futures," AWDT founder and executive director Lindy Nelson says.