Heat Stress Threatens Farm Workers and Crop Production in Major Regions

Climate change is not only affecting the environment but also the people who depend on it for their livelihoods.

Farmworkers, who plant and harvest crops in many major regions of the world, are facing increasing exposure to extreme heat and humidity that can have serious health consequences.

Heat stress: a silent killer

(Photo : TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP via Getty Images)

Heat stress occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature and cool itself down. It can cause various symptoms, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps, and fainting.

In severe cases, it can lead to heat stroke, which is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Heat stroke can cause organ damage, brain injury, coma, and death.

According to a global study of major crops, farmworkers are being increasingly exposed to combinations of extreme heat and humidity during planting and harvest seasons that can make it hard for them to function.

The study found that the average number of days per year that farmworkers experienced unsafe heat conditions increased by 21% from 2000 to 2019, and is projected to increase by another 39% by 2050.

The study also estimated that heat stress reduced farmworkers' labor productivity by 5.6% in 2019, equivalent to a loss of 32 million full-time jobs.

The impacts of heat stress on farmworkers' health are not only physical but also mental. Some studies have linked heat stress to increased suicide risk among farmers in India and the American West, driven by despair around heat and drought-induced crop failures.

Heat stress can also affect farmworkers' cognitive abilities, decision-making, and safety awareness, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.

Why farmworkers are more vulnerable

Farmworkers are more susceptible to heat stress than the general public for several reasons.

First, they perform strenuous physical labor outdoors, often under direct sunlight and with little shade or ventilation. This exposes them to high levels of heat and humidity, as well as solar radiation and air pollution.

Second, they often work long hours, sometimes exceeding the recommended limits, without adequate breaks or rest periods. This reduces their ability to recover from heat exposure and increases their dehydration and exhaustion.

Third, they may lack access to sufficient water, electrolytes, and nutritious food, which are essential for maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance. They may also consume beverages that can worsen dehydration, such as soda, coffee, or alcohol.

Fourth, they may wear inappropriate clothing or personal protective equipment that can trap heat and prevent evaporation of sweat. They may also be reluctant to remove clothing or equipment for fear of losing pay, getting sunburned, or violating cultural norms.

Fifth, they may have underlying health conditions or take medications that can impair their thermoregulation or increase their sensitivity to heat. For example, some farmworkers may suffer from chronic kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease, which can affect their kidney function, blood pressure, blood sugar, or heart rate.

Sixth, they may face social and economic barriers that limit their access to health care, information, and protection. For example, some farmworkers may be migrants, undocumented, or minors, who may face language, cultural, legal, or financial challenges to seek medical attention, report heat-related symptoms, or demand better working conditions.

Also Read: Heat Stroke, Dehydration Kills More Than 200 In Mexico

How to protect farmworkers from heat stress

There are several possible solutions to protect farmworkers from heat stress and its consequences. Some of these solutions are individual, such as drinking enough water and electrolytes, eating healthy food, wearing appropriate clothing and sunscreen, taking breaks in shaded or cool areas, and seeking medical help if needed.

However, these solutions may not be sufficient or feasible for many farmworkers, who may face constraints or pressures from their employers, peers, or customers.

Therefore, there is also a need for collective and institutional solutions, such as improving the working environment, enforcing labor standards, providing health insurance and education, and implementing heat stress prevention and management programs.

One of the most important steps to protect farmworkers from heat stress is to improve the working environment by providing adequate shade, ventilation, cooling, and water facilities.

This can be done by installing fans, misters, air conditioners, or evaporative coolers in the fields or greenhouses, as well as by planting trees, shrubs, or crops that can provide natural shade and reduce the ambient temperature.

Another step is to enforce labor standards that regulate the working hours, breaks, rest periods, and payment of farm workers.

This can be done by adopting and implementing national or international laws, regulations, or guidelines that specify the maximum exposure limits, minimum recovery times, and fair compensation for farmworkers who work in hot and humid conditions.

A third step is to provide health insurance and education to farmworkers, especially those who are vulnerable or marginalized.

This can be done by expanding the coverage and accessibility of health care services, as well as by raising awareness and knowledge of heat stress symptoms, risks, and prevention among farmworkers, employers, health care providers, and policymakers.

A fourth step is to implement heat stress prevention and management programs that can monitor, assess, and respond to heat stress situations.

This can be done by using heat index or wet bulb globe temperature as indicators of heat stress, as well as by developing and applying heat stress action plans, alert systems, and emergency protocols.