Farmers’ Psycho-Social Stress and Its Management

Modern day farming brings lot of stresses to farmers and farming communities. Farmers are affected by various types of mental issues. They are affected by time and financial pressure, weather uncertainty, market regulations, work unpredictability. When the pressures resulting in farming are beyond their control, farmers get frustrated. The effects of stress may be manifested in the form of mood swings, anxiety, change in sleep patterns, changes in appetite, fatigue, loss of interest in family, friends and hobbies, dependence on alcohol. Stress can affect family and social life. Agribusiness professionals should play a key role in helping mental health specialists find the reasons underlying farming stress. Farmers should be made aware of the physical, behavioural, emotional and cognitive symptoms of stress. Farmers should avoid unnecessary stress by learning how to say ‘no', altering the stress situation, adapting to stressor by changing self, trying not to control the uncontrollable, spending time with family, going for a task. Farmers should be connected to well-wishing and close people, aware of people around them, do regular physical exercises, develop new interests, and show kindness and do good deeds for someone in need.