Drought Readiness and Anxiety of new and experienced Indian Farmers

Indian Farmers continue to suffer regularly from Droughts, as a frequent natural disaster and has profound effect individually and collectively. The mental health effects of natural disaster are well known however anxiety and readiness of likely Drought is less well understood. However, in addition to likely anxiety and readiness there is likelihood of revisit of feelings of loss, grief and hopelessness. This research investigates the experience of Drought anxiety and readiness on experienced Farmers and new Farmers, facing threat of Drought for the first time. Farmers took part in focus group discussions of the likely anxiety and readiness of Drought on themselves, their families and their community in districts of Valsad, Navsari, Surendranagar and Savar kundla, Gujarat, India. In addition to anxiety and readiness related to financial and workloads, Farmers reported experiencing significant anxiety and readiness from the emotional impact of environmental degradation, from loss of hope for the future, and from feelings of being isolated and financially weak. Sample of 60 farmers was selected out of 60, 30 were new farmers and 30 were experienced farmers. All the farmers were at least 20 years of age. It was observed that new and experienced farmers do not show significant difference in Drought anxiety and readiness to face Drought.