THE FARMERS' STRESS AT RURAL AREAS

Stress is the physical, mental and emotional response to a stress-causing factor or ‘stressor’. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious.  Some of the signs of stress are:

problems with concentration or memory, lack of energy, motivation, lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy etc.  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/rural-issues-com.

The stress faced by farmers and their families at the rural areas are often overlooked. While stress of farmers could come from many sources, an adverse economic conditions seems to be the most significant reason that affects farmers' health and safety. The harsh financial situation at the rural areas does not only cause stress to rural farmers but makes them susceptible to illness.

Many times when we talk about sustainable agriculture, we always see sustainable in terms of products and economics and not in terms of people. There is need to see attention given to the sustainability of the people (especially the rural dwellers) within the farming communities. Therefore, tough financial state and other sources of stress such as fluctuating weather, long work hours, lack of information, and isolation are linked to symptoms of mental and physical ill-health which leads to depression, inability to concentrate, difficulty in making decisions, sleep disturbances, increased alcohol use, reduced productivity and frequent arguments with family and friends.

The issue is how can the rural farmers balance the need to make money, protect their health and also use safety measures at work. This is because majority of them are still subsistence farmers and the thought of funding into becoming mechanized is enough to cause stress and financial concerns. 

Hence, to achieve taking a positive step towards dealing with stress at work place, the rural farmers must create a forum where they can talk about their worries amongst themselves and sometimes with supportive experts. Again, the rural farmers should remember that they are not alone; knowing that people in every profession experience some kind of stress and depression can help them reduce the feelings of isolation and helplessness.

Finally the  need to assist our farmers in the rural communities cannot be overemphasized. This is a clarion call to our government agencies, NGOs and International bodies to help in promulgating policies, equiping and reaching out to our rural farmers as this will go a long way in reducing stress and making our communities convenience in practicing this humble profession: farming.