WOMEN make up the majority of students studying agriculture at Aberystwyth University for the first time in the institution’s history, data shows, with institution chiefs hailing the development as an “important milestone”.

Agriculture in the UK remains a largely male dominated industry, but the proportion of female farmers is increasing.

Aberystwyth University itself broke new ground last year when a record number of women started Agriculture courses there.

Bethany Harper, a 22-year-old who hails from Wiltshire, is in her second year studying for a degree in agriculture at Aberystwyth University.

She said: “It’s fantastic that so many women are now studying and working in agriculture.

“Not only can us women do a man’s job; we can also promote and inspire the next generation of young farmers.

“I’m not from a farming background, but I did grow up around both horses and dogs.

“I studied agriculture during my GCSEs and I absolutely loved it.

“I had the bug then, so I carried on studying it at college.

“I then spent two years working full time on a mixture of farms in the UK, the US and New Zealand.

“Obviously, the pandemic affected everything, so I spoke to my parents about going to university. “Although I love doing the hands-on work of farming, having a degree opens up opportunities to work in other connected careers.

“I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to develop further, so I said: let’s go for it.”

Anaïs Bunyan, a 20-year-old from Luton is in her second year studying for a degree in agriculture at Aberystwyth University, said she was “delighted” by the news.

“It’s absolutely amazing to see this many women studying agriculture and working in the field,” she said.

“It’s really great to see more women stepping forward in this traditionally male dominated industry.

“Seeing so many other women on my course, and women holding lectures and classes, is so empowering and definitely feels like a step in the right direction for the agricultural industry.”

Dr Pip Nicholas-Davies, the current head of the Agriculture teaching group at Aberystwyth University said it was “an important milestone for us.”

“It’s fantastic to see so many more young women studying agriculture in Aberystwyth who have a real enthusiasm for food, farming and the environment and who will no doubt go on to make a significant impact on the wider sector in their chosen careers.”