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

Ratana Sapbamrer,Eakasit Chaipin,Surat Hongsibsong,Amornphat Kitro,Pornthip Promrak,Pailinrak Kamolsan,Wilawan Chaiut,Jiraporn Chittrakul,Pattarika Panya,Patchareeya Amput,Wachiranun Sirikul,Chatchada Sutalangka,Suttinee Sidthilaw

doi:10.3390/su14031189

Ratana Sapbamrer, Eakasit Chaipin + Show 11 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031189

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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.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a serious human health crisis worldwide
The results found that nearly half of the farmers (47.7%) had a household income of THB 1000–5000/month, that
In terms of the changes in agricultural working lives, our study reveals that COVID-19 had an impact on the costs of planting, the costs of agrochemicals and fertilizers, the prices of agricultural products, and the markets and logistics of agricultural products

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a serious human health crisis worldwide. As of November 3, 2021, COVID-19 had infected over 247 million people and is responsible for the deaths of 5 million people worldwide. Governments worldwide have implemented public health measures, including lockdowns, quarantine, and travel restrictions, to control the rapid spread of COVID-19. The measures have a high level of efficiency in controlling the spread of disease, they have had an impact on several sectors, in particular, the public health, transportation, logistics, education, socioeconomic, and agricultural sectors [3,4,5,6]. With regard to the agricultural sector, the agriculture industry worldwide was not prepared to deal with a crisis such as COVID-19 [7]

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