•••
T RADE N E W S
AUBREY KRUGER
When pressure becomes
too much...
THE WORST DROUGHT
THE PAST CENTURY
RESULTED IN RENEWED
EMPHASIS ON THE
EXTENT OF PRESSURE
EXPERIENCED BY PRO
DUCERS. HOW MUCH
DO WE REALLY KNOW?
SENWES SCENARIO
ATTEMPTED TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THIS
SITUATION AND TALKED
TO CAREL BOTMA, A
MINISTER AND COUN
SELLOR IN BOTHAVILLE,
WHO UNDERSTANDS
THIS KIND OF PRES
SURE.
STRESSORS EXPERIENCED
BY PRODUCERS
Botma identified 14 stressors
experienced by producers. Stress
can be categorised in two groups,
namely controllable and uncon-
32
trollable stressors.
The uncontrollable stressors
are aspects such as climate. Botma also found that uncontrollable stress factors have much more
of an impact on people than
controllable stress factors.
RESULTS
Pressure should not be taken
lightly, Botma warns. Farmers
are being weighed down with
frustrating powerlessness, which
can become chronic and impact
negatively on their lives.
HOW DO PRODUCERS DEAL WITH IT?
There are constructive and destructive mechanisms by means
of which stress can be dealt with.
The most important constructive
mechanism of producers is spirituality - having a personal relationship with God, which results
in religion officially becoming a
part of their lives.
WHY FAITH?
Faith brings meaning, structure
and expectations for the future.
However, it could be problematic on a totally different level.
In addition to the current crisis
being experienced by producers,
it could escalate in intensity to a
faith crisis, where they ask questions as to why it doesn't rain,
Apr/May 2016 • SENWES Scenario
despite their desperate prayers
for rain.
WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO
THIS QUESTION?
Botma admits that he doesn't
know the answer. However, one
should not attribute the drought
to punishment for our sins. We
are allowed to feel the way we do
and the question remains valid.
We struggle with the same problems in our faith which Jacob
struggled with. Struggle often
brings acceptance and resignation. God provides what I need
to weather the storm - an answer
to our prayers on a different
level.
SO WHAT COULD THE PROBLEM BE?
“When we pray, do we not decide how and when the crisis
should be solved? We already see
the 100mm of rain we asked for
and that is all we have eyes for".
It is important to always see
the bigger picture. The latest
crisis is always the biggest crisis
and we often forget about old
crises which God helped us to
overcome.
What do we learn in times
like this? Do we not perhaps
confuse or daily bread with daily
cake? As soon as the icing comes
off, we panic. Is God's silence