The “Women in Rural Areas” Thematic Working Group, established within the National CAP Network, held a study visit to the Štavlić Family Farm in Marindvor on 29 August 2026. The activity was organised as part of the Annual Action Plan of the National CAP Network and funded by the European Union.
The aim of the study visit was to exchange knowledge and experience, present examples of good practice in rural entrepreneurship, and discuss the challenges and needs of women in rural areas.
Participants toured the Štavlić family estate, including the organic garden, orchard and historic forest classroom, while learning about the local tradition of solidarity and seed sharing that has been preserved in Marindvor for generations.
The central part of the programme was the round-table discussion “What Can We Learn from Each Other?”, which focused on administrative and legislative barriers, access to information, education, agricultural product processing, water management, aquaculture and rural tourism.
Martina Klepić presented the Women in Farming Platform, a European platform bringing together stakeholders from 23 EU Member States. The platform focuses on six key areas, including access to finance, reducing administrative burdens, business diversification, fairer pensions for women in agriculture, and the development of mentoring systems. The official launch of the platform’s website was announced for 10 September 2026.
The programme continued with expert presentations on permaculture growing methods, modern planting techniques, and the importance of preserving indigenous and traditional seed varieties. The visit concluded with the Tomato Festival, featuring numerous tomato varieties of different shapes, colours and culinary characteristics.
The study visit confirmed the importance of direct dialogue with stakeholders in the field, the exchange of experience and networking in identifying the needs of women in rural areas and developing concrete proposals for their further development.
https://igor.hr/en/news/242-study-visit-by-the-women-in-rural-areas-thematic-working-group-to-the-stavlic-family-farm-in-marindvor#sigProId9ee97a0b8a
