The Psychological State of Farmers in the Agricultural Cultivation of Food Crops during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Java, Indonesia

Abstract

<a name="_Hlk39513249"></a><span lang="EN-US">This research aims to discover the psychological state of farmers in the agricultural cultivation of food crops during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a descriptive explorative study which explores the farmers’ opinions regarding their agricultural activities during the COVID-19 pandemic which reached its peak between March and June 2020. During this period, a Large Scale Social Distancing (LSSD) system was enforced in some areas. The data collection was conducted in June 2020 before the implementation of the new normal, involving 634 respondents which spread across 40 districts throughout Java. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period, almost all farmers continued to carry out their agricultural activities. Some farmers had implemented the health protocols. According to most farmers’ opinions, doing the agricultural activities made them healthier. With regard to COVID-19, most farmers behave normally, while the rest feel worried. Agricultural extension activities are constrained and hampered by the implementation of physical and social distancing, especially large-scale social restrictions. Seeing the psychological condition of the farmers, where most are continuing to cultivate food crops and only slightly worried about the COVID-19 pandemic, gave hope for the sustainability of agricultural production in the new normal period</span><span lang="IN">.</span>

The Impact of Livelihood Assets on the Food Security of Farmers in Southern Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Families even lack access to basic health facilities, including disinfectants (e.g., alcohol), face masks, gloves, and so on. Further, most people suffer from severe stress as a result of the pandemic, including the high mortality rate of COVID-19, the imposed social distancing, depression caused by isolation, as well as the chronic stress and anxiety for economic problems resulting from it [68]. Consequently, COVID-19 has had adverse impacts on the mental health status of rural families, significantly reducing their social vitality.…”

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“…The changes in consumption patterns were also made by the farmers due increased prices and unavailability of regularly consumables within their vicinity [26,42]. The restriction of movement out of their village, no social gatherings, increased hoaxes about infection in social media and high desocialization was experienced by the farmers and they felt more stressed and [2,43]. Therefore, these changes in the farmers means of subsistence caused significant disruptions among them, which in turn contributed to the deterioration of their psychological state.…”

“…In the similar lines of pandemics, the recent outbreak of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, also called corona virus 2019 (COVID- 19), has evolved into one of the most serious pandemic situations in the past hundred years [1]. The Covid-19 disease slowly developed into a pandemic, starting with a small chain of spread from Wuhan city of China, which then culminated in a larger chain in many countries resulting in its spread around the world [2]. All nations throughout the world implemented lockdown measures to confront this life-or-death scenario, which accordingly restricted the human mobility and other activities.…”

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