HORTTECHNOLOGY, cilt.33, sa.4, ss.389-390, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
In 2011, Rutgers, The State University of
New Jersey and Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey, conducted a needs
assessment to identify the priority needs, interests, and capacities of women
farmers in Turkey. We interviewed extension
educators and female farmers in three villages and used the results to develop
a pilot 28-hour course to train 40 small-scale citrus and greenhouse producers
from Kumluca, Turkey. Training included computer literacy, technical citrus and
greenhouse production, and business management. As a result of the successful
pilot program, the municipalities of Elmali, Duzce, Korkuteli, and Boztepe (which included five
Rutgers Study Abroad students) duplicated the program in Kumlaca within the
next 2 years. To expand the training to more women farmers in Turkey and in
other countries, we partnered with
colleagues in Germany, Spain, and Malta to develop Empowering Women Farmers with Agricultural
Business Management Training (EMWOFA). The project had a multiplier effect by
training educators who then trained women farmers to improve their business
skills and farms. The outputs of EMWOFA were a training manual for educators, a
workbook for the women farmers, and e-learning videos in English, Turkish,
Spanish, German, and Maltese.
Keywords: Women empowerment, women farmers, farm management, Suzanne’s
Project, Annie’s Project, business management, best management practices,
business plan