This group of researchers believe the government should give incentives to farmers who plan for droughts, and not just throw cash at the problem when the media’s looking.
But multiple inquiries and research studies (see here, here and here) have concluded that this approach is not enough.
We need to invest more in actions that support their preparedness and resilience before drought hits, rather than waiting until conditions are at their worst before offering help.
Farmers who use programs such as the farm management deposits scheme, which allows them to put aside surplus income in good years and draw on it in difficult ones, have higher well-being during droughts than those who access emergency assistance provided during drought.
We need to better reward farmers who make these investments, and to offer incentives for continued investment in this type of action between droughts.
As well as helping farmers invest in actions to increase resilience to drought, we also need to consider the best ways to support those who are suffering severe psychological and financial stress.
For many farmers, supporting them to cope with drought and stay in farming is the best decision.
The decision to leave farming is understandably one of the most challenging times in a farmer’s life, and often happens when their wellbeing is low and they are experiencing psychological distress.
But also tell your local politician that you support investment in long-term programs that help farmers improve their resilience to the next drought, and the one after that, and that recognise and reward the investments farmers are already making in doing this.
If we truly have our farmers’ well-being at heart, we should be taking drought action in wet years as well as dry, and in good times as well as bad.