PATRICK KRAUSE

The dispute over crofters being issued with rates demands for sporting rights was clarified by a representative of the Scottish Assessors Association for us recently. Apparently, even though the vast majority of crofters do not hold sporting rights, they have been entered on the valuation roll because they occupy land. Their local authority then issues them with a demand for rates on the sporting rights they do not hold.

We are advised that the crofter should contact their local assessor asking to be taken off the valuation roll and meanwhile must pay the bill. They then claim for the reimbursement of the amount they paid, back from the local authority. Does this make sense? No information was offered on how much this futile exercise is costing to administer and for what return (which must be in the region of nil).

Another controversy has been raised on provision of rural skills training for women in the media. The Scottish Crofting Federation recently ran a training course on strained-wire fencing, exclusively for women, to satisfy demand. Women have said that they feel more comfortable being trained with other women, especially on subjects deemed “men’s work” where there is a tendency for women to stand back, to not ask questions for fear of looking foolish. There is also a social benefit reported.

The ground-breaking research commissioned by Scottish Government, Women in Farming and the Agriculture Sector, presents unequivocal evidence that women are not taking up training opportunities for various reasons, including feeling that they are out of place, that they will be in the minority, that courses are not planned to be gender-appropriate, and so on. Both men and women recognised the implications for women of not receiving practical training, and the resultant deficiency of skills in the sector.

The Farm Advisory Service is also responding to demand, in piloting a series of women-only agricultural training events. The advertising got a mixed response on social media. With the predictable enthusiasm there also came protests from an unexpected quarter – unexpected by me at least. Objections came from women, particularly it seems from women who are successful in agriculture, who have “made it”. I can understand that some may feel that a women-only skills training course is not for them, but where does the drive to slate this initiative come from?

I don’t know the answer, but I noted that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon anticipated this when she launched the Women in Farming and the Agriculture Sector report last year, saying: “The findings of this report show a strong need to change some of the cultures that prevail in farming and agriculture. Now, when I say that about cultures, I’m quite conscious that there will be women in farming that disagree with that. Often when women are already in a particular area they don’t necessarily perceive the cultural barriers that others from outside might perceive.” Wise words from a successful woman.

Making agricultural training more accessible to women is also about addressing things like timing courses to fit in with other family commitments; providing childcare and holding courses in suitable locations to reduce travel time. However, something that is widely asked for is women-only training courses so it is right that training providers reflect this.