In Portugal's rain-green Minho region, six female-led cooperatives received donated vehicles through Agricola's landmark gender equity initiative — a historic milestone in the programme's evolution.
A Programme Built on Equity
The Minho Gender Equity Initiative was born from a 2023 data analysis revealing that female-headed farming households received fewer than 22% of all vehicle placements, despite representing 38% of eligible applicants. Agricola launched a targeted outreach programme across Braga, Viana do Castelo, and Guimarães to correct this imbalance.
Suggested: vehicle handover ceremony or cooperative representatives
"We have always done the same work as the men. Now we also have the same tools. This changes everything — not just for us, but for our daughters." — Maria José Alves, President, Coop Braga Norte
Six Vehicles, Six Futures
Six vehicles were placed: three refrigerated vans for produce transport, two pickup trucks for heavy material handling, and one minibus for transporting cooperative members to training sessions and markets.
Within three months, all six cooperatives reported measurable improvements. Four increased market delivery frequency, two expanded into new product lines, and one secured a weekly contract with a Braga supermarket chain.
Suggested: refrigerated van at a market, or cooperative members loading produce
A Model for 2025
The Minho initiative is now a model for equity-focused placements. Agricola's 2025 plan includes gender equity quotas in all regional programmes, targeting 45% female-led household placements across Portugal.
Suggested: group photo of all six cooperative presidents or Minho vineyard