New CAP regulations focus on promoting the participation of women in the socio-economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming. The definition of a ‘woman farmer’ will now refer to any individual farmer not meeting the definition of a ‘young farmer’ that identifies as a woman.
The Department of Agriculture has outlined that applicants must be able to “demonstrate that they are a woman” in the form of a personal ID, such as a passport, gender recognition certificate or birth certificate. Applicants must also meet the proposed definition of an ‘active farmer’ and be registered as a woman in the Department’s Corporate Client System.
A summary document on Ireland’s 2023-2027 draft CAP plan also outlines other definitions vital for the provision of payments. In terms of the ‘agricultural area’, it says this will be sub-divided into arable land, permanent crops and permanent grassland.
There is also now a proposal to include “rushes” within the “permanent grassland” definition. For ‘agricultural activity’, the same current provision will remain.
It is proposed that there must be an agricultural activity on a parcel of land for it to be considered eligible – this must either be producing crops or maintaining land in a state suitable for production.
Eligibility from 1 January, 2023, refers to 30% of a parcel consisting of features that may be beneficial to water protection, climate, or biodiversity. And an ‘active farmer’ is to be defined as those engaged in at least a minimum level of agricultural activity.
The draft states that, “For an applicant to be deemed active, they must demonstrate how they bear the economic and agricultural risk with regard to agricultural activity being undertaken.”
A ‘young farmer’ is now defined as those aged no more than 40 years at any time during the calendar year, in which s/he submits an application under Pillar I or II measures.
LSL News.