On Thursday, October 1st, over 110 people took part in a day focused on the health of women in the agricultural sector. The event, organized by MSA elected officials from the cantons of Billère, Lescar, Morlaàs, and Pau, brought together farmers, MSA representatives, and students from the Montardon agricultural high school. Discussions covered physical and mental health, risk prevention, and the balance between professional and private life.
The day began in Lons with a visit to the organic market garden farm of Mélissa Joubert, before continuing at the Montardon agricultural high school. The program included a session on occupational risk prevention led by an occupational physician, a presentation of MSA initiatives, testimonials from women farmers, a health conference with maieuticien Nicolas Dutriaux, and a sophrology session.
Véronique Most, cantonal president for the Pays de Morlaàs and Montanérès and organizer of the event, emphasized the importance of awareness. "When you are in this profession, you have your head in the handlebars. You prioritize your farm and step back, without always thinking about yourself," she noted.
The prevention of musculoskeletal disorders was a key point addressed. "Women farmers do the same work as men, but they do not have the same physical strength. Therefore, we must inform and support them so they can practice their profession in good conditions," she explained.
Véronique Most also stressed the importance of starting this awareness from the training stage. "When we were young, we had practically no information on prevention. The more we inform from schooling onwards, the more we give advice for working as long as possible and aging well," she estimated.
This day allowed for the exchange of information, testimonials, and discussions, with the primary goal of encouraging women farmers to take better care of their health. The conference by maieuticien Nicolas Dutriaux raised questions regarding the preservation of women farmers' health.
