In western Burkina Faso, farmers are facing a growing crisis where extreme weather, insecurity and livelihoods collide. Although total rainfall hasn’t increased dramatically, floods have become more frequent and unpredictable, destroying crops, homes and income. Many farmers are being forced to abandon familiar staples like maize and millet for riskier alternatives such as rice, while others sell livestock or take precarious work just to survive.
Beyond the physical losses, the article reveals a quieter toll: rising stress, anxiety, trauma and grief among farming families already living under the shadow of violence and displacement. Researchers say there is still little data on farmers’ mental health in Africa, but early findings suggest extreme weather, forced migration and economic instability are placing enormous psychological strain on rural communities — with very limited access to mental health care.
This powerful, ground-level reporting connects climate change, land use, conflict and mental health through the voices of farmers, traditional leaders and scientists — and asks what support looks like when resilience is stretched to its limits.
Read the full article to explore the human stories behind the floods, and why mental health can no longer be an afterthought in climate adaptation: https://bhekisisa.org/features/2026-01-27-heavy-weather-and-the-mind-of-the-west-african-farmer/
