Journal of Research in Business, Economics and Management (JRBEM) ISSN: 2395-2210 Volume 4, Issue 4 available at www.scitecresearch.com/journals/index.php/jrbem/index 486 Female Entrepreneurship in Agricultural Sector. The Case of Municipality of Pogoni in the Period of Economic Crisis Apostolos D. Zaridis 1 , Athina Rontogianni 2 , Kostas Karamanis 3 1 Hellenic Open University, T.E.I. of Epirus, University of the Aegean. 2 T.E.I. of Epirus. 3 T.E.I. of Epirus, Hellenic Open University. Abstract Purpose of this field research is the study of the multifunctional role of rural women both in development and primary sector’s businesses. The survey was conducted in 2014, in Municipality of Pogoni, Greece, by personal interviews and questionnaire with women holding a small business in primary sector. Thus, the results about female entrepreneurship are unique for this specific rural area. It is concluded that within modernization of agricultural sector, the role of rural women has greatly improved in production and organization of agricultural labor. Female entrepreneurship networking, small businesses’ succession, and necessity and opportunity entrepreneurship in primary sector’s businesses are examined and also how these affect female entrepreneurship. Women entrepreneurs’ opinions were catalogued. Factors such as education and vocational training are important in enhancing the role of rural women. Finally, main problems woman entrepreneur faces, mainly economic and managerial, were pointed out, while economic crisis seems to affect negatively the agricultural sector of this region. Keywords: Female Entrepreneurship; Smes; Small Business; Agricultural Sector; Agribusiness; Women Entrepreneurs. 1. Introduction On a global scale, the role and importance of women in development has been discussed a lot, especially from 70’s, while many programs that had been developed aimed at improving the living conditions of women in rural areas and increasing their family income. In 80s, European studies for rural areas showed increasing research interest for women farmers and focused their attention primarily on the position of women in farm, decision making, and family agricultural work, and secondarily in land ownership (Whatmore, 1988). Agriculture is an important sector for women’s employment, and is the seventh largest sector of women employment and the fifth largest of men employment in E.U. Many women contribute as spouses or business partners of farm owners, while exceptional, occasional and seasonal work, f.e. at harvest time, seems to be an important feature of female employment in this sector (European Commission, 2000). Woman, today in rural society, has many roles and participates in family, rural and social environment, and economic development. The contribution of women farmers is important and they can benefit whole society with their many productive activities, such as working on farm, and managing household and family. Farms in Europe are family businesses where couples often work together, with woman to possess an auxiliary role. A percentage of 38% of the total workers in family businesses in E.U. are women. Dealing with agriculture considered predominantly male profession (Vounouki and Iakovidou, 2001). In European countries, women belong in the category of unskilled workers, and are helpers of their husbands (Mazariegos, 1989; European Commission, 2006).