Drought's Psychological Toll on Farmers in Ghana Revealed by Study

Strategic Insights -

Droughts are a familiar hardship in Ghana's semi-arid north, where rainfall is erratic and agriculture is the mainstay of rural economies. Research has well-documented the economic and environmental effects of drought, but not enough attention has been paid to its psychological toll on farmers and their families. A recent study in the Talensi district of Ghana's Upper East region assessed the impact of drought on the mental wellbeing of peri-urban farmers in semi-arid Ghana.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prolonged periods of drought were strongly linked to increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among 507 farmers surveyed in the Talensi district.
  • Personal social capital, which includes emotional, informational, or material resources from social relationships, acted as a buffer and reduced the severity of mental health impacts.
  • Farmers with strong social ties reported better mental health outcomes, even when experiencing the same drought conditions.
  • The study found that social capital, such as receiving food from neighbors, emotional support from relatives, or shared labor during the farming season, helped farmers cope with the psychological impacts of drought.
  • The study demonstrated that climate adaptation planning is incomplete without integrating psychological wellbeing.
  • Combining social capital with other forms of capital (human, physical, financial, and natural) alongside sustainable livelihood diversification programs could reduce vulnerability to mental health impacts of drought.
  • The study highlighted the need to include mental health in disaster response and climate adaptation planning.

Statistics:

  • 507 farmers were surveyed in the Talensi district between September 2022 and March 2023.
  • The study found a significant link between the severity of drought effects and elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
  • 71% of farmers reported symptoms of insomnia, irritability, persistent worry, and even suicidal thoughts due to prolonged drought periods.
  • The study revealed that 65% of respondents reported experiencing food insecurity due to drought.
  • Climate change is expected to intensify drought conditions in Ghana's northern regions, affecting 80% of the country's population.

Sources:

  • The Conversation -- Africa -- By Seth Asare Okyere, Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburg and Adjunct Associate Professor, Osaka University, University of Pittsburgh
  • Climate anxiety is real. Why talking about it matters
  • Five questions for African countries that want to build climate-resilient health systems
  • -- Drought can make farmers feel worried and hopeless: Ghana study finds social networks help -- https://theconversation.com/drought-can-make-farmers-feel-worried-and-hopeless-ghana-study-finds-social-networks-help-262627
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