Image: Ismo Pekkarinen / AOP
Following a protest “tractor march” by farmers in Helsinki last spring, the government provided 50 million euros in emergency aid to the agricultural sector. This is far from enough, say those working with a Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution (Mela) project aimed at helping farmers cope with financial pressures. On many farms, economic difficulties that have piled up for a long time are also taking a psychological toll.
Insomnia, fatigue, unpaid bills
Pirjo Ristola, who is leading the Mela project, says that the level of need for psychological help among farmers came as a surprise.
Visits to farms resulted in a few farmers being immediately …
Read the full article at: http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/tough_times_for_farmers_-_many_seek_debt_relief_and_therapy/9482667