Mental Health of Smallholder Farmers in Pakistan

Addressing psychological well-being is critical not only for the health of farmers but also for sustaining national food security, economic stability in rural areas, and effective climate adaptation. Smallholder farmers in Pakistan who form the backbone of the agricultural sector are increasingly exposed to environmental uncertainty, financial pressures, and emotional strain due to worsening climate impacts. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and catastrophic floods are no longer rare shocks but regular disruptions that compromise yields, livelihoods, and mental stability. These stressors, if left unaddressed, lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicide among rural populations, weakening community resilience and productivity.

Agriculture contributes 22.7% to Pakistan’s GDP and employs 37.4% of the national labor force, with nearly 60% of the population residing in rural areas (Pakistan Economic Survey 2022–23). Despite their critical role, smallholder farmers operate with minimal support. They often manage marginal lands with low soil fertility, lack access to institutional credit, and receive inadequate technical or extension services. These structural vulnerabilities, combined with climate-induced losses, create chronic uncertainty that undermines both economic viability and mental well-being.

To build climate resilience and agricultural sustainability, Pakistan must integrate mental health into its rural development strategy. This includes deploying mobile mental health units, training agricultural extension workers in psychological first aid, and establishing peer support networks within farming communities. Policies that improve income security such as crop insurance, minimum support prices, and debt relief also play a preventive role in reducing psychological distress. Moreover, recognizing mental health as a component of national climate adaptation and food security planning can unlock international funding and support under the UNFCCC and SDG frameworks. A mentally resilient farming population is essential to managing environmental uncertainty and sustaining the agricultural systems on which the nation depends.

The Mental Health Dimension of Climate Vulnerability in Pakistan’s Agriculture

Pakistan ranks among the top ten most climate-vulnerable nations globally, a position that reflects its increasing exposure to extreme weather events and the mounting toll on human and economic systems. The 2022 floods were among the most devastating climate disasters in the country's history, affecting 33 million people, submerging 4.4 million acres of cropland, killing 1,739 people, and displacing over 8 million (UNDP, 2023). The economic loss exceeded $30 billion, with agriculture alone incurring $2.9 billion in damages (World Bank, 2023). Earlier disasters, such as the floods of 2010 and 2014, similarly decimated 17 million acres of crops and caused widespread loss of food stocks, including over 500,000 tons of wheat.

While the physical and economic consequences of these disasters are widely acknowledged, the psychological toll on rural communities is often overlooked. Farmers endure chronic stress, anxiety, and depression driven by repeated crop failures, livestock deaths, water scarcity, and price volatility. A 2023 study conducted in Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), revealed that 72% of surveyed farmers experienced stress, 68% reported anxiety, and 56% exhibited signs of depression linked to climate-induced disruptions (Journal of Rural Mental Health, 2023). Poor mental health undermines farmers' ability to make sound decisions, reducing investments in adaptive practices and delaying critical agricultural tasks such as sowing and harvesting.

Trauma from repeated disasters is especially pronounced. In Punjab, women affected by the 2010, 2014, and 2022 floods exhibited high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), impacting their participation in farming and household resilience (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023). Heatwaves, like the one in 2021 that destroyed half of Punjab’s mango yield, and prolonged droughts in Sindh and Balochistan, which killed livestock and wiped-out crops, compound these stresses. Water inequity—particularly unfair canal distribution in the Indus Basin—adds another layer of frustration for tail-end farmers who struggle with unreliable access during key growing periods.

The psychological burden translates into diminished farm productivity and adaptive capacity. Stressed farmers are more risk-averse, often delaying climate-resilient innovations or abandoning them altogether. Migration becomes a last resort, especially among youth, destabilizing family structures and community networks. In the absence of formal support systems, farmers resort to informal coping strategies like precautionary savings, borrowing, and crop diversification. While these may offer temporary relief, they are insufficient for long-term resilience in a rapidly changing climate. Addressing mental health is thus not just a welfare issue, it is a critical component of climate adaptation and rural economic sustainability.

Strengthening Resilience Through Support Systems

Resilience in Pakistan’s agricultural sector is not only about physical infrastructure or climate-smart practices it also depends on the strength of social, informational, and policy-based support systems. Smallholder farmers, particularly those living in climate-vulnerable areas, benefit immensely from networks that support their mental and emotional well-being, while also providing practical tools for adaptation.

Social and community support plays a foundational role. Family ties, peer networks, and trusted community leaders help farmers cope with stress, particularly after disasters. When these bonds are reinforced through structured community-based mental health programs, such as group counseling or farmer self-help groups, isolation and psychological distress decrease significantly. These models have proven successful in several South Asian countries and are especially vital for women, who often bear invisible caregiving and farming burdens in the aftermath of crises.

Equally important is access to climate and agricultural information. Uncertainty fuels anxiety, particularly when livelihoods depend on increasingly erratic weather. Pakistan’s Agromet Advisory Service provides a strong model: by delivering timely, localized forecasts and farming advice through SMS, it empowers farmers to make informed decisions. Expanding such mobile-based agro-advisory services, especially in local languages and tailored to smallholder needs can directly improve farmer confidence and resilience.

At the policy level, targeted interventions are essential. Integrating mental health into climate adaptation planning is a necessary next step. India’s Kisan Call Centers offer an instructive example, where farmers receive both agricultural guidance and psychological support. Similar models should be piloted in Pakistan. In addition, equitable water governance must be prioritized fair canal distribution and community water management reduce both conflict and stress among tail-end farmers.

Finally, climate budget accountability is key. Provincial governments should earmark a defined portion of climate adaptation funds for farmer well-being covering psychological support, training, and community resilience-building activities. These interventions not only support individual farmers but create healthier, more adaptive rural communities.

Conclusion

In the face of intensifying climate threats, the psychological well-being of smallholder farmers is emerging as a critical yet often neglected dimension of Pakistan’s agricultural sustainability. As the frontline actors of the country’s food system, these farmers bear the brunt of climate shocks ranging from devastating floods and prolonged droughts to water inequity and extreme heat. The mental health impacts are profound and far-reaching: chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma not only diminish farmers’ quality of life but also undermine their ability to make timely and informed decisions, adapt to climate variability, and sustain productivity.

Evidence from across Pakistan highlights the strong link between mental distress and reduced agricultural performance, increased migration, and weakened rural resilience. Addressing these challenges requires a paradigm shift in policy and practice. Mental health must be integrated into national and provincial climate adaptation frameworks, rural development strategies, and agricultural extension services. Practical interventions such as peer support networks, mobile-based mental health services, inclusive advisory tools, and farmer-focused training can alleviate psychological burdens while improving resilience.

Investing in farmers' mental health is not just an act of compassion; it is a strategic imperative for securing food systems, rural economies, and environmental sustainability. A mentally resilient farming population is better equipped to innovate, adapt, and thrive in the face of an uncertain climate future.

References: Pakistan Economic Survey; UNDP; World Bank; Journal of Rural Mental Health; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Clinical Psychology, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi, Pakistan and can be reached at rijaasjed@gmail.com

Related Stories