By Jimena Gomez, Agroecology and Sustainable Agrifood Systems Specialist, with Charlotte Dufour, Practice Advisor, CoFSA Secretariat
“Empowerment is not just about offering external solutions but about fostering dignity, hope, purpose, belonging, agency and a sense of security from within.”
Farmers, the heart of our food systems, bear the brunt of climate change, biodiversity loss, and economic instability, but their struggles run much deeper. Beyond the visible challenges, farmers face emotional hardships that often go unaddressed. Many grapple with a profound loss of hope, feeling isolated as their communities shrink and traditional support networks erode. Economic pressures and competition for dwindling resources intensify stress, while watching their land degrade adds to their sense of helplessness. As their roles shift in a rapidly changing world, farmers are left feeling disempowered, disconnected, and alone.
How can we re-shape the narrative around empowering farmers?
As we consider how to empower small-scale farmers, it’s essential to embrace more holistic approaches that integrate not only technical, financial, or political support but also the emotional and psychological dimensions of empowerment. True empowerment means addressing the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of farmers—alongside their economic and social challenges. Farmers tell us that creating safe, compassionate spaces where they can share their stories and have their struggles acknowledged is vital. We heard that “Empowerment is not just about offering external solutions but about fostering dignity, hope, purpose, belonging, agency and a sense of security from within.” By recognizing the broader dimensions of wellbeing and reflecting on the limitations in existing models of agricultural development, we can start to shift mindsets, mental models, and narratives toward more inclusive, human-centered strategies to expand their impact and effectiveness.
It is time to listen: the urgent call to recognize and support farmers’ wellbeing.
In answering this call, July 2023 marked the beginning of a powerful global conversation on farmers’ wellbeing and psychological resilience. This series of discussions, co-facilitated by the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA) and COP2 (“Care of People x Planet”), set the stage for a compassionate, collaborative journey toward supporting the mental and emotional resilience of farmers worldwide. From the outset, this dialogue aimed to acknowledge and address the mental and emotional challenges faced by farmers across the world. (See this blog article)
A key theme that emerged during these conversations was the importance of community and connection. Farmers said they had “a deep need to feel more connected—to one another, to the land, and to supportive networks that understand their struggles.” Community support and traditional wisdom were vital, they said, for healing and sustainability, underscoring the profound role they play in fostering resilience.
Equally important was the call to include more farmers in these conversations. Ensuring that those who live these realities every day are actively engaged in shaping the solutions is critical to creating meaningful, lasting change.
What we know so far: insights from collective discussions
The issues discussed in the March 2024 Townhall highlighted 5 key considerations that should be addressed when supporting farmers’ mental wellbeing and psychological resilience.
Holistic Agricultural Investments: Investments in farmers’ mental health are most effective when integrated into broader development initiatives that align with their economic, social, and technical needs. Furthermore, addressing farmers’ wellbeing holistically can make existing agricultural investments more effective. Working with traditional leaders and existing social networks is essential, andcan also be complemented with other approaches to support anonymity and prevent social stigma.
Sustainable Farming Practices: Conventional farming, with its reliance on chemical inputs, often leads to stress, health risks, financial problems and disconnection from Nature. In contrast, regenerative, agroecological, and organic methods not only improve environmental health but also help farmers reconnect with the land, fostering purpose and resilience.
Traditional and Indigenous Wisdom: Indigenous practices, which view Nature and humanity as interconnected, offer valuable insights for resilience. They promote emotional and spiritual wellbeing through community ties and guidance from elders, reinforcing the balance between human and environmental health.
Emotional Conflict in Animal Husbandry: Farmers’ deep bonds with their animals can make the act of slaughter emotionally difficult, significantly impacting their mental health. Addressing this complexity through community support and mental health resources is vital.
Supporting farmers’ dignity, especially in crisis situations: Farmers often face multiple, intertwined challenges—climate change, economic hardship, and violence in conflict zones—without adequate support. Governments and institutions must recognize their contributions and involve them in decision-making.
The importance of research to support action in each of these areas was highlighted.
Dig deeper into the discussions emerging from the Townhall Meeting in the full report (accessible here).
If this resonates, join us in this journey!
1. Join us in our ongoing efforts to create safe spaces for farmers’ voices! We will hold an online discussion about experiences with “Farmers “Listening Circles and support networks” end of November 2024. We will share details soon. If you have examples of innovative approaches to support farmers’ wellbeing, please share them in the comments.
2. We have a lot to learn from each other! Join the CoFSA email list on farmers’ wellbeing to share insights and experiences on supporting farmers’ mental wellbeing and psychological resilience – write to cofsa@undp.org.
3. Let’s talk about it! Let’s break the silence and create spaces for compassionate, safe and respectful conversations. We encourage you to organize dialogues and spark reflections within your organisation or networks. Let us know if you are planning such activities and if we can support you with contacts and ideas and in sharing information on your events and their outcomes.
Farmers are at the heart of our global food systems, and supporting their mental wellbeing is essential for a sustainable future. Together, we can make a difference.
1 comment
I write on behalf of my organization called ‘ Community Empowerment to Tackle Climate Change and to Promote Biodiversity Conservation’ The program actually started as a community based project called ‘The Bagbwe Agro-Forestry and Cashew Programmes in 2016 and was based in the rural community. The main Thematic areas were 1. Forest protection and tree planting. 2, Climate- Smart Agriculture and control of wildfires. We also work with community schools for environmental education, tree planting and waste management. In Sierra Leone climate vulnerabilities are : Deforestation, frequent flooding during the rains( Summer season), high Temperature, frequent wildfires during the dry season( winter), etc. I am working with smallholder farmers to transform our traditional farming activities to Climate-Smart Agriculture for sustainable land use which include tree planting, Biodiversity conservation and management and other livelihood activities that help to promote biodiversity conservation.
I am an Agriculturist and Environmental activist