Financial and Environmental Stressors among Rural Female Farmers in Parbhani District, Maharashtra

Abstract

Rural women sustain farm production while also carrying substantial household and caregiving responsibilities, yet their work-related mental stress remains insufficiently documented. This study examined the socio-economic, financial and environmental sources of stress among rural female farmers in Parbhani taluka of Maharashtra. 150 women were selected from Pingli, Pokharni, Daithana, Indewadi and Sanpuri villages, with 30 respondents drawn from each village through stratified random sampling. Stress responses summarized using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. Most respondents were married (92.67 %), lived in nuclear families (76.67 %), earned less than ₹1 lakh annually (69.33 %), and cultivated or worked on marginal and small holdings. More than half worked mainly as farm labourers, while only 8 % reported a decision-making role. Financial stress was most pronounced for insufficient regular cash flow (3.66 ± 1.236), concern about keeping the farm in the family (3.60 ± 1.259), debt (3.52 ± 1.403), and the need to take off-farm employment (3.49 ± 1.289). Environmental stress was highest for prolonged adverse weather (3.53 ± 1.354), hazardous chemical use (3.45 ± 1.213), delayed farm operations due to weather (3.38 ± 1.133), and pest- and disease-related production losses (3.36 ± 1.064). The findings show that women’s stress is shaped by the interaction of economic insecurity, climate exposure, demanding work and restricted control over farm decisions. Gender-responsive credit, climate-resilient production support, safer technologies, drudgery reduction and accessible community-based mental-health services are therefore required.