Is farmer burnout a threat to agricultural sustainability? Evidence from Türkiye

Farmer burnout is not only an individual health problem, but also a situation that may threaten the continuity of agricultural production systems and environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The agriculture sector is strategic, and the World Health Organization recognizes burnout as a non-medical occupational phenomenon. On the other hand, the United Nations aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Some of the sub-goals of the SDGs, specifically 'Healthy Individuals' and 'Decent Work and Economic Growth', are related to burnout, as they focus on employees' mental health and wellbeing. This study aims to measure the burnout of farmers working in the agricultural sector. In the study, the Maslach Burnout Inventory was adapted to include statements specific to the farming profession, allowing for the measurement of burnout among farmers. The developed burnout scale was applied to 267 farmers. The number of farmers to be surveyed was determined by the proportional sampling method. The study measured farmers' burnout in three sub-dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Accordingly, farmers experience moderate emotional exhaustion. Farmers felt a low level of depersonalization and found their accomplishment at a medium level. Drawing on the call to achieve the SDGs by 2030, the literature on burnout measurement, and the fact that agriculture is a strategic sector, this study presents a model that explains which sociodemographic characteristics affect farmers' burnout.