María Guerra from Lanzarote has become the only young woman to run her own poultry farm in Lanzarote. The woman, at 23 years old, already has a large one-hectare farm located in Tinajo called La Sarantontona, from which her family and she manage to bring various typical Canarian products to the island's market, such as organic sweet potato from El Jable.
The young woman originally from the island has taken over from her father, who started in 2004 with organic agriculture as a hobby, with a job in which she has embarked by taking control of the activity to bring the production to various parts of the island. Since she was little, she has been in charge of learning about the feeding of the animals, the production of eggs, the control of the irrigation system of the vegetables, the packaging and distribution of the products and the registration of the business accounts. Now it is her turn to direct all the legacy that her family has left her.
"I felt sorry thinking that it was going to be lost", that was the reason why the young woman embarked in 2022 to take care of the farm and the business, she confessed to La Voz. A profession, in which she has registered as self-employed, and that for her has become her passion day after day. "It fills me a lot to get up to see the sunrise while I work", she says about the beginning of the working day. A job that allows her to have enough freedom to manage her own schedules. One of the things that convinces her most about the job is being able to "organize herself as she pleases and not have a boss behind her", she emphasizes as a positive detail.
Sometimes, she spends "14 hours" working, which for her includes the negative part of running this business. "Here on the farm there is always something to do, there is no time to get bored", she has revealed. In addition to working, she also takes advantage of the free time she has left to make plans outside the farm, like any young person of her age. Her friends are aware of all the time she has to dedicate to her work. "My friends tell me that I never have time to do anything", she pointed out with a laugh.
"Many days I spend 14 hours working, then my friends tell me that "I don't have time to do anything"", says María with a laugh
In addition, the young woman also dedicates herself to distributing the products in different areas and establishments of Lanzarote. The business, which covers its market in Puerto Calero, Famara, Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, Teguise, San Bartolomé, Tinajo, La Santa and Tiagua, also sells to supermarkets, herbalists, fruit shops and even a restaurant. She confesses that of all the activities she carries out for La Sarantontona, managing the documents is the most complicated for her. "What stresses me the most is the paperwork issue", she has sincerely said inside the farm.
In the meeting with Guerra you can appreciate the desire and enthusiasm with which she lives her work. She has already turned it into a lifestyle made to measure, and this is also appreciated by the people around her. "Many people are amazed and admire you for having this initiative", she has revealed. Regarding her dedication to the field, some citizens have different opinions. "The older ladies tell me that I'm crazy to get into farming", she has expressed.
"I have not suffered any moment of discrimination even though I have always dealt with men", she says about her experience
From a social point of view, she says she has "never" felt attacked for her gender and age, despite the fact that women are a minority in the business. "I have not suffered any moment of discrimination even though I have always dealt with men", she explained. It should be noted that "there are few girls who dedicate themselves to agriculture, most are boys", but according to what she confessed to the newspaper, she has not had to deal with any type of discrimination since she embarked on this business. "I have always felt good, even many tell me that more people like me are needed", she has revealed.
A change in the ecological vision on the island
Organic products have not always been well received by the citizens of Lanzarote. The young woman's father, José María Guerra Cabrera, remembers how the beginnings in the business were, when nobody believed in the benefits of organic products. "At the beginning people laughed at the organic, they told us we were crazy", he has revealed. Something that has changed enormously, given that today, the demand for these products is increasing. "Now citizens are asking for more and more", he added.
The progenitor underlines the importance of producing quality products and getting involved in the business as a secret to having a wide range of customers. "It is not necessary to be certified", what is necessary is "to do it out of conviction", he stressed. The portfolio of clients who consume these organic foods is quite wide, Cabrera has collected. "We have foreign clients who come on vacation and ask us for our products", he has
Some consumers who have placed their security in the business and no longer want to consume other products. "We know they trust us, they don't buy anything other than our vegetables", the father has revealed. He has recognized that the volume of work they have is remarkable. "They ask us for seasonal things and there are people who even want boxes of vegetables a week".
From the family business they have made clear their knowledge about the complications of dedicating themselves to agriculture due to the climate in Lanzarote. "It is a very complicated climate", the progenitor specified. Due to the dry climate of the island and the lack of rain, working on the plantation of fruits and vegetables requires a lot of patience and assuming some losses. One of the reasons why Guerra demands that the profession be more valued in Spain, as it is done abroad. "It is a very undervalued job in Spain, but it is in other countries, where they bow to you when you pass by", the father stressed.
"Agriculture is a very undervalued job in Spain", lamented José María Guerra Cabrera
The number of people who decide to consume local products from the island is increasing. "There are people who are aware of this and look for ways to buy local products", they have stressed. Just like the family that makes up the business, firmly believing in supporting local products from Lanzarote. They express it openly and let it be seen that they also consume food produced on the island. "We must support what we have nearby before the big brands", the father specified.
The young woman is clear about how she envisions her future in her business. From La Sarantontona they want to reduce their production and focus on the sweet potato plantation. A much less overwhelming job with direct distribution. "The plantation of varied vegetables is very stressful and much more laborious", she stressed. Her professional vision is to see herself working for years in the business. "In my future I would like to continue here, the only thing I am looking for is to be able to live off this and continue quietly on my own", she has affirmed about her long-term purposes.
In addition, given the amount of work and tasks involved in being in charge of the business, she hopes to have a worker to accompany her on her journey. "My idea is that in the future I can direct the business and run it alone together with an employee", she specified.
Increase in the price of egg production
As in all sectors, agriculture has also suffered the rise in prices this 2024. In the case of the farm, the young woman confesses that for the production of her eggs there has been an increase in the price of the materials. "The cartons have gone up from 8 to 11 cents", she has revealed. An added expense to which is added the registration fee for self-employed workers, rat extermination, gasoline, car insurance, farm maintenance, feed and transportation of the up to 500 organically raised hens brought from Tenerife, among other investments for the business. They are in charge of packaging, weighing, marking and placing them in the cartons ready for distribution.
Guerra has counted the sale of about "60 packages" of eggs a day, taking into account their distribution to the restaurant. In her business, mostly M size eggs are produced, some S and XL, which she sells to hotel establishments. "I sell six eggs for 3.05 euros", she pointed out taking into account the increase in the price of production.
In addition, the increase in the price of raising chickens marks the final value of their products. The feed that feeds them comes directly from the Peninsula to Lanzarote, although she would like to be able to produce it on the island. "I bring the feed from outside, but I would like to be self-sufficient to get the grain", she has revealed. An activity in which she prefers not to embark, she confesses that "it is not profitable", she concluded.
