Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Daily Lives, Agricultural Working Lives, and Mental Health of Farmers in Northern Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the daily lives, agricultural working lives, and mental health of farmers in northern Thailand. This cross-sectional study was carried out in September and October 2021 by interviews. From the stratified random sampling, 2046 farmers responded. There were five sections on the interview form, including demographics, daily life, agricultural working life, stress, and depression experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that COVID-19 negatively affected the daily lives of the farmers, making it worse by 61.2%. COVID-19 increased the cost of planting (57.4%) and the cost of agrochemicals and fertilizers (69.9%). It also decreased the prices of agricultural products (73.5%) as well as agricultural extensions (66.5%). The markets and logistics of agricultural products during the pandemic were more difficult than before it (72.8% and 65.1%, respectively). Half of the farmers (50.3%) had moderate stress, and the highest scores were for the loss of household income (mean ± SD = 3.92 ± 0.94) and increased household expenses (mean ± SD = 3.92 ± 0.98). With regard to depression, 19.6% of farmers had depressive symptoms, and the multivariate analysis shows that the mental health of farmers was associated with the changes in their daily and agricultural working lives, as well as with financial problems. The remarkable findings indicate that the farmers who had high and extremely high stress levels had a higher prevalence of depression than the farmers who had no stress (adj.OR = 10.10 and 22.45, respectively). Our results lead to the conclusion that the COVID-19 crisis had an impact on the daily lives, agricultural working lives, and mental health of farmers. The results of this study can be used to provide pertinent guidance, and they have implications for government and other relevant organizations in their COVID-19 efforts to improve agricultural systems and sustain the mental health of farmers.

Changes in agricultural context and mental health of farmers in different regions of Thailand during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Our results found that 87.5% of Thai farmers were stressed, 38.1% were anxious, and 48.9% had depressive symptoms during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In comparison, the findings of Sapbamrer et al [9], who determines the effects on mental health among northern Thai farmers during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, indicated that 98.1% of northern Thai farmers were stressed and 19.6% showed depressive symptoms. Therefore, Thai farmers were likely to have less stress but more symptoms of depression during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…A meta-analysis by Nochaiwong et al [14] stated that the prevalence of mental health problems worldwide in the general population owing to COVID-19 was 36.5% for stress, 28% for depression, 26.9% for anxiety, and 50% for psychological distress, issues also occurring in the farming population. Changes in agricultural production and distribution, as well as family debt, were linked to increased stress and depression levels among farmers [9,15]. Organization and social support were factors linked to anxiety levels, cropland size, and financial status.…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic caused negative effects on agricultural production and food supply security. The pandemic led to a shortage of laborers, import and export restrictions, and transportation restrictions, the economic impact on farm households resulting in increased debt, lower savings, and income loss [9,10]. Farm households lost 39% of their income due to COVID-19, while overall family income dropped by 16% [7].…”

Determining Stress and Associated Factors in a Rural Community During Covid-19 Pandemic Using the Covid Stress Scale

“…The reason might be that farmers were more pessimistic about income loss. (31) However, farmers also tended to be affected by many factors, including problems in marketing goods, problems in transportation and a lack of financial support from the government. (32) Increasing age was associated with less pandemic-related stress.…”

Impact of COVID-19 on the Production of Farmers in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh

“…COVID-19 is what we are presently dealing with (corona virus disease of 2019). The virus COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-causing coronavirus 2 (COVID-2) (SARS-CoV-2) [2]. The rare infectious respiratory disease known as COVID-19, which initially surfaced in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, in December 2019, was given that name by the World Health Organization.…”