A global survey of more than 10,000 farmers across 158 countries suggests dissatisfaction over pricing is now the norm rather than the exception.
According to the Voice of the Farmer 2026 survey by Wikifarmer, 51.1% of respondents said they are not paid fairly for what they produce. The findings point to a structural imbalance in food systems, where producers feel squeezed despite rising pressures on inputs and production.
As Georgios Myrisis, the study’s lead researcher, noted, the issue of fair pricing should be “the starting point for serious conversations about the future of food systems.”
Income decline widespread and sharp
The survey also highlights a significant deterioration in farm incomes. Some 45.1% of farmers reported lower income year-on-year, while 24.1% said their income was “much worse”. Just 9.4% said it was “much better”
The downturn was most pronounced in Europe (55.7%), followed by South Asia (44.1%) and Africa (43.4%), underscoring the global nature of the pressure.
Almost half of respondents (47.5%) rated their financial security at the lowest levels, pointing to a sector with limited resilience to shocks.
Climate losses now near-universal
Production losses linked to climate and pests were reported by the vast majority of farmers. Some 83% experienced some level of crop loss, while 25.2% lost more than a quarter of output
Drought emerged as the most damaging factor, with 37.4% of exposed farmers reporting severe losses, followed by heat, flooding and storms.
Crucially, each additional climate hazard reported was linked to a higher likelihood of income decline – highlighting the compounding effect of environmental stress on farm profitability.
Government support seen as inadequate
Farmers were also highly critical of institutional backing. Over 63% rated government support at the bottom two levels, while 47.7% gave it the lowest possible score
Strikingly, dissatisfaction cut across very different economies. Countries as diverse as Cameroon, Greece and Poland all ranked among the lowest for perceived support, suggesting this is not simply a development issue but a systemic one.
The data also shows a strong link between weak support and poorer financial outcomes, reinforcing the perception that current policy frameworks are failing to address farm-level realities.
Stress levels rising across the sector
The financial and environmental pressures are feeding into farmer wellbeing. Over 21% reported the highest level of stress and nearly 35% ranked themselves in the top two tiers
Stress was most acute among farmers aged 41-50, before easing slightly later in life – suggesting peak mid-career pressures.
Unexpectedly, the survey also found that larger farms reported higher stress levels than smaller ones, challenging assumptions that scale provides greater resilience.
Direct sales offer a potential buffer
One notable finding points to emerging resilience strategies.
Farmers selling directly to customers online were 35% less likely to report income decline, making it the strongest protective factor identified in the study. Selling at farmers’ markets also reduced risk, though to a lesser extent.
The findings suggest that shorter supply chains and closer market access may play a growing role in stabilising farm incomes.
A system under pressure
Taken together, the results depict a global farming sector under sustained strain – financially, environmentally and psychologically.
While regional differences exist, the overarching trends are consistent: price dissatisfaction, income volatility and climate disruption are converging, creating a more complex and fragile operating environment for producers.
As Myrisis concluded, the pressures reshaping agriculture “are broader and more complex than many assume” – and increasingly demand systemic solutions rather than incremental change.
Methodology note
The survey gathered responses from 10,234 farmers between November 2025 and March 2026 via Wikifarmer’s network, partner organisations and digital outreach. While not representative of the global farming population, it provides a large-scale snapshot of farmer sentiment across diverse markets.
