The primary sector in the Canary Islands is undergoing a profound transformation, with women assuming an increasingly prominent role in generational succession. Traditionally relegated to the background in family businesses, new generations of female farmers and ranchers are leading projects with technical training and a renewed business vision.
Data confirms this trend: the share of employed women in the Canary Islands' primary sector has risen from 25% to 35.9% between 2021 and 2026. This increase highlights a greater presence in an activity historically associated with a male image, despite the long tradition of women working in family agricultural and livestock farms across the Archipelago.
Aid for young farmers' incorporation clearly reflects this progress. While in 2016 only 23% of subsidies (50 out of 212) were granted to women, by 2024 this figure soared to 47%, with 25 out of 53 grants awarded to female farmers. This means nearly half of the subsidized new entrants are now women.
“"Women have always been there; the thing is, they weren't visible. Behind an agricultural or livestock farm, there was a great woman, even if she wasn't in the front line."
The president of COAG Canarias, María del Carmen Pérez, emphasizes that the situation is changing and more women are deciding to lead their own projects. These are often "well-thought-out projects, with less risk, which gives them a higher chance of success," she notes. The arrival of professionals with technical training, business knowledge, and a vision focused on marketing and new technologies is revitalizing the countryside.
This phenomenon is also observed in agricultural organizations, where two of the main sector organizations in the Canary Islands are currently headed by women, a milestone unthinkable just a few decades ago. Ángela Delgado, president of Asaga Canarias, agrees that female presence has always existed, though it is now more visible. "Many have managed for years, but without a formal title," she states. The current challenge is for young women to take on leadership positions and for experienced female farmers and ranchers to be recognized.
The visibility provided by social media also contributes to improving the sector's image and attracting new professionals. Modern agriculture and livestock farming require technical knowledge, management skills, and adaptation to regulations, areas where new generations of women arrive with superior preparation, combining tradition and innovation.
Examples like that of Isora García Hernández, a farmer from Tenerife who professionalized her family business specializing in pitaya, or the sisters Natalia Mayor and Beatriz Mayor, who manage the Naroy cheese factory in Tejeda, illustrate this new era. These women not only continue family businesses but also drive changes, diversify production, and focus on direct sales, demonstrating the entrepreneurial potential of women in the Canary Islands' primary sector.
