여성농업인 역량 강화 방안

Strategies for Strengthening the Capacity for Women Farmers: Focused on Women Farmers' Centers

1. 연구의 필요성 및 목적 본 연구에서는 여성농업인의 역량 강화를 위한 여성농업인센터의 역할을 모색해 보고자 하였다. 여성농업인이 고령화 시대의 대안적, 중추적 농업 노동력으로 서, 농가소득 창출에 기여하는 경제주체로서, 농촌 지역사회 발전의 리더로서의 역할이 확대되어 가고 있으나, 현재 전문 농업인으로서, 농업 경영체의 경영인으로서, 지역개발 리더로서 여성농업인의 위상과 지위보장은 매우 미흡하여 이를 개선하기 위한 정책이 요구되고 있다. 또한 농업생산, 가공, 판매, 체험학습프로그램, 농촌ㆍ농업관광, 지역 특산물 상품화 직거래 서비스 등 6차산업화의 주역으로서 여성농업인의 역할이 확대되고 있는 시점에서 여성농업인의 다양한 요구와 수요를 수렴할 수 있는 여성농업인센터의 기능과 역할 제고 그리고 지속가능한 역량 강화 방안을 모색해 보고자 하였다.

The purpose of this research was to identify issues that pose as obstacles to strengthening women farmers' capacity development and to provide policy recommendations to improve these issues. For this research, directors from 24 Women Farmers' Centers (the total of 41 Women Farmers' Centers in the Republic of Korea) were surveyed via email. The focus group interview (FGI) was conducted to those affiliated with the women farmers' centers and women farmers' organizations, as well as public officials. In addition, an advisory panel meeting was held to receive expert feedback on these matters. The question on identifying issues to be resolved to foster the future development of Women Farmers Centers, 75% of the center directors indicated 'securing the funding/budget' while 54.2% of directors indicated 'developing a program that considers the region's socio-economic and cultural aspects' as problems. Further 16.7% of directors suggested 'strengthening cooperation with relevant organizations in the local community' and 'the difficulties in planning and developing programs to strengthen capacities' as problems. When asked about the challenges in implementing education programs to strengthen women farmers' capacity at women farmers' centers, a large number of respondents highlighted 'difficulties in planning and developing capacity strengthening program' and 'recruiting teaching staff' as main difficulties. In order to ensure effective assistance to women farmers' centers and to strengthen women farmers' capacities, it is crucial to resolve the staff shortage at the center, secure funding to run programs and encourage greater participation of women farmers. It also implies the need to focus resources on planning and developing program contents to strengthen capacity and recruit teaching staff. The result of focus group interview indicated 'a proactive attitude to social participation', 'goal-oriented leadership to meet concrete results', 'the ability to network with local development leaders' and 'nurturing strategic mind' as necessary qualities for women farmers of the Republic of Korea. It also suggested the necessity to establish a specialized training program for women farmers to enhance these abilities. Based on these results, this paper calls for the shift in policy direction from running after-school classes and childcare programs to providing a capacity strengthening consulting and training programs to women farmers. It recommends the policy to 'enhance the roles and abilities of women farmers' centers', 'strengthen the assistance from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to invigorate functions of women farmers centers', 'develop and disseminate training contents that can be used at women farmers' centers to assist women farmers' capacity building', and 'to assist the recruitment of teaching staff'.