Farmers in trouble...

[SumSam]

...all across the world, it seems. I've read stories about farmer suicides brought on by drought, crop failures, animal disease and debt. Cotton farmers in India have been committing suicide for the past four years after crops were attacked by boll weevils and other pests. UK farmers have been badly affected by foot and mouth and blue tongue disease, not to mention cheap imports. And now I read about Australian farmers taking their lives unable to cope up with anxiety, stress and depression caused by a six year drought.

Australia drought sparks suicides (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6065220.stm)

I've always thought of farming communities to be the stable bedrock of any society or nation, and it's sad to think they are now under so much attack in so many places. Whenever there are conflicts or civil wars farmers are the hardest hit. :(

[cbressler1976]

This is very sad and scary....:(

[Issachar]

I guess this is yet another wake up call as to how important it is to get the gospel out to all. So sad. When one's hope is in other than Christ, it is in something that will change. When it changes, their hope is gone. Christ never changes so when our hope is in Him, circumstances can change dramatically but our hope is secure.

Issachar

[Tenbear2808]

Is this setting up the world famine of the Bible?

[Cameron]

Great points Issac. I can imagine the fear and frustration of having your crops destroyed, but commiting suicide over it seems a bit bazaar.

Perhaps these people should follow the example in the Bible of a seven year famine that struck Egypt. The people planned in the good years for survival in the bad years. Every year does not produce a good crop, and in the bad years, we discover who we really are. Either we re-group and plan again for the next season, or we lose all hope and take our life.

[mary rae]

I agree with the others who've posted here. This is sad.
My DH is a dairy farmer. We are so very blessed to be still able to make a decent living, not exhorbitant, but ok. Here in Canada, we have a supply management system for some of our farm products. This still doesn't guarantee no trouble though. We hear of farmers going into 1-2 million $ debt just for bigger barns, more Milk quota(if in dairy business) etc. Now this may be "managable" in good years, but even here in Canada, we are experiencing hotter, drier growing seasons. This results in lower crop yields of feed for cows, which leads to lower milk production, which means less income. How are the farmers to pay off such a debt load? Go into more debt?
Also, weather is not always to blame. There are other factors. Poor farming practices-not rotating crops properly can decrease yield. Putting more acres into corn production for the purposes of ethinol fuels is not always the answer. This has driven up the price of corn and reflected in higher feed costs. Sometimes it might even have "political" overtones to it, particularily in developing countries.
:preach Just my thoughts on this for the day! We in Canada & U.S. have still much to be thankful for don't we?

[SumSam]

I wonder if crop insurance can help? Surely authorities should realise that you cannot leave farmers to the vagaries of the weather, to the extent they feel trapped in their circumstances and take their own lives?

I feel astonished that in this day and age of remote sensing satellites that can map out the fate every acre of land on the earth, the authorities did not respond till so many farmers were taking their lives.

I can understand farmer suicides in a poor overpopulated country like India where most small farmers live on the brink of poverty even in good times...but Australia?! Could it be the place is so big it's difficult to keep track of folks out in the isolated places? :idunno :scratch

[Justdust]

I guess this is yet another wake up call as to how important it is to get the gospel out to all. So sad. When one's hope is in other than Christ, it is in something that will change. When it changes, their hope is gone. Christ never changes so when our hope is in Him, circumstances can change dramatically but our hope is secure.

Issachar



Good post! :thumb

[lisaann]

My husbands family are dairy farmers and we live on a satellite farm raising heifers. We know several friends and acquaintances who have committed suicide. :( Small farmers can barely compete with the big farms and are going into huge debt just trying to keep up. My husband's college roommate, who is also a dairy farmer, is in debt to the tune of over a million dollars. :suprised This guy is just in his mid 30's and is an average guy just like you and I. Can you imagine having that much of a debt hanging over your head? :panic

People may complain about the price of food and milk but let me assure you that very little of that is actually making it back to the farmer that grew it.

[Issachar]

I know this won't happen, but what I would like to see, is ZERO gov't involvement in farming (and most everything else), tens of thousands more farms scattered throughout the nation and most of the farm's production used locally. Cut out the middle man? Ha! How about the ARMY of middleMEN?!

Weather related bad times in various area's now and then? Let the people figure it out. We have trucks. Farm goods can be shifted to the degree necessary to different areas. Until the whole nation is hit by severe drought or plague at the same time, that should work. Something like that anyway.

Issachar