What about grants for farmers ?

“Honestly, without money, you can’t do much. Every time, I arrive too late or every time, I arrive too early and it’s never the right time. And sometimes, it’s true that it’s discouraging. I think in the agricultural world, we should reflect on:”

• Where do the grants go? To whom?
• How does it help agriculture?
• How is it distributed? And does it really go to the right place?

During our documentary at the Domaine du R’Oiselet, Rose shared her difficulties when responding to calls for projects and other grants. So, we took a closer look at this thorny issue.

As Rose describes in her questions, there are three major challenges: access, distribution, and real impact.

First problem then: access. Before even discussing the various possible grants for farmers in the Mediterranean basin, it’s worth remembering that to even be able to request them, you first need to know they exist. Indeed, one of the major challenges of rural areas is remoteness. It creates geographical and social isolation that significantly reduces access to information. Many calls for projects or public grants thus go out of the window, depriving many farmers of valuable development opportunities. This issue is even more complex as it is amplified by impostor syndrome, which constitutes a significant psychological barrier. This prevents many of them from taking the step to request these funds, even when they eventually become aware of their existence.

Accessing funding also means being able to receive funds. However, the agricultural sector represents a major sector of unbanked workers. In the Mediterranean, particularly. In this situation, women represent the majority. “Gender inequalities in employment and earnings mean that women have lower incomes, making them less able to open accounts in formal financial institutions. Moreover, women frequently do not have the collateral necessary to seek loans from the formal financial sector. These factors combined with discrimination against women in financial markets mean that women are far less likely than men to have checking or savings accounts in their own names*”.

When, despite everything, all criteria are met to access different financial aids, a second problem arises: responding to these proposals.

The methodology for responding to different grants is often very heavy and time-consuming. It sometimes requires proposing the implementation of an additional complete project to the structure and its usual actions. Without training, it is very difficult to access such grants and understand what the provider’s expectations are. Coupled with the intensity of agricultural work, which leaves little room for administrative tasks, it’s practically mission impossible.

Therefore, solid support and the right contacts in these processes are necessary to hope for a positive outcome. For women farmers, especially when they are alone, it’s a real glass ceiling they face: distrust and sexism regarding their skills are systematic. They must therefore redouble their efforts to be considered equally.

All these issues lead us to the real impact: who actually receives the grants?

Well, you may have guessed it: large agricultural structures. Indeed, it is estimated that in Europe, “20% of farmers own 83% of agricultural land and receive 81% of grants.**”

These structures, facing few if any of the difficulties mentioned above, are perfectly equipped to respond and claim these grants. This response capability allows them to maintain an important network of influence with funding institutions, and their size gives them natural credibility with funders, thus reinforcing their dominant position.

Of course, there are potential solutions, and as Rose explains, “joining such networks, staying in it for the long term. Sooner or later, it can pay off.”

By coming together, joining different networks, associations, or organizations, by grouping together among farmers, one multiply they chances of being informed & supported.

There is still much to be done for the voices of small farms in the Mediterranean to be heard too. This is why Héméra Initiatives aims to become a support platform and community for all women farmers.