Researchers to Study Rising Temperature’s Impact on Farmers’ Mental Health

Hyderabad: A study involving a University of Hyderabad researcher will examine the impact of rising temperatures on the mental health of farmers, an area researchers say remains under explored.

Dr Nanda Kishore Kannuri from the university’s department of anthropology is part of the project titled TOLAKARI (Transformation of lived experience and knowledge of heat, agriculture and depression in India). The study will assess links between heat exposure and mental health conditions such as stress and depression among farmers and agricultural workers, the university said.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust with around £3 million, the project will allocate about Rs.2.18 crore to the University of Hyderabad over five years, according to the institution.

The study involves institutions from India and the UK, including the University of Edinburgh, Ashoka University, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and the Mariwala Health Initiative. It will be conducted in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, where a large section of the population depends on agriculture.

Researchers said farmers face prolonged exposure to heat due to outdoor work and reliance on weather conditions for income. Rising temperatures can affect crop yields and increase input costs, adding financial pressure. “Farmers are directly exposed to heat for long hours, and its impact is not just physical. It can affect stress, uncertainty and overall well-being,” Dr Kannuri said.

He noted that most existing studies have focused on crop loss and income. “But heat can affect people in other ways too, through long working hours, daily stress and changing conditions,” he said.

According to the university, the study will combine fieldwork with data analysis. Researchers will engage with farmers and agricultural workers to document lived experiences and examine data to identify links between heat exposure and mental health outcomes, including stress, depression and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts. “We are trying to understand different pathways, not just financial loss,” Dr Kannuri said.

The team will also work on developing community-based responses based on the findings. With temperatures rising across the region, the study will examine an aspect of climate impact that researchers say is often less visible — the mental health burden on farming communities.