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

Author

Listed:
  • Ratana Sapbamrer

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
    Environmental, Occupational Health Sciences and Non-Communicable Diseases Center of Excellence, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Jiraporn Chittrakul

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Wachiranun Sirikul

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Amornphat Kitro

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Wilawan Chaiut

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Pattarika Panya

    (School of Nursing, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand)

  • Patchareeya Amput

    (Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand)

  • Eakasit Chaipin

    (Department of Public Health, Faculty of Science, Rajabhat Lampang University, Lampang 52100, Thailand)

  • Chatchada Sutalangka

    (Department of Physical Therapy, School of Integrative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand)

  • Suttinee Sidthilaw

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Pornthip Promrak

    (Department of Physical Therapy, Pua Crown Prince Hospital, Nan 55120, Thailand)

  • Pailinrak Kamolsan

    (Department of Physical Therapy, Pang Mapha Hospital, Mae Hong Son 58150, Thailand)

  • Surat Hongsibsong

    (Environmental, Occupational Health Sciences and Non-Communicable Diseases Center of Excellence, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
    School of Health Sciences Research, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Ratana Sapbamrer & Jiraporn Chittrakul & Wachiranun Sirikul & Amornphat Kitro & Wilawan Chaiut & Pattarika Panya & Patchareeya Amput & Eakasit Chaipin & Chatchada Sutalangka & Suttinee Sidthilaw & Por, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Daily Lives, Agricultural Working Lives, and Mental Health of Farmers in Northern Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1189-:d:729807
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dan Pan & Jiaqing Yang & Guzhen Zhou & Fanbin Kong, 2020. "The influence of COVID-19 on agricultural economy and emergency mitigation measures in China: A text mining analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Lioutas, Evagelos D. & Charatsari, Chrysanthi, 2021. "Enhancing the ability of agriculture to cope with major crises or disasters: What the experience of COVID-19 teaches us," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
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