At first glance, you might be surprised – farming is hard work. In real life, farmers put in long days of effort: one farmer notes that tending livestock means work “seven days a week, 52 weeks a year”. So yes, many people (especially those on a farm) do think farming is difficult because it truly demands dedication and skill. Yet in anime and fantasy stories, farming often looks almost magical and easy. Protagonists like Hiraku Machio from Farming Life in Another World actually dream of a peaceful farming life. They get enchanted tools, endless stamina, and instant harvests, making farming feel rewarding and simple. In other words: real farmers know farming is tough, but fictional farmers act like it’s fun and easy. Let’s explore why there’s such a difference between reality and stories.
Farming Is Hard Work in Real Life
Even with modern tractors and technology, farming is still incredibly demanding. In practice, real farmers face relentless duties. For example, one experienced farmer explains that caring for animals never stops – “Animals need to be cared for seven days a week, 52 weeks a year”. That means no vacations or weekend breaks: cows must be milked, fields watered, and chores done every day. Research confirms this perception: many young people see agriculture as difficult because of these pressures. They report that farming is seen as “hard to achieve” exactly because it requires so much constant effort and expertise (about soil, weather, machinery, and markets).
Never-ending effort. Farm work doesn’t pause. Crops and animals depend on the farmer’s attention 365 days a year.
Unpredictable challenges. Weather, pests, and changing markets can ruin a season’s work. This uncertainty makes success uncertain and adds stress. Studies note that youths often fear farming because so much can go wrong.
Physical and technical demands. Plowing fields, lifting hay bales, fixing equipment, and learning modern agronomy all take strength and skill. These combined responsibilities make farming more than a job – it’s a way of life that many describe as very demanding.
Despite the hard work, real farmers do love the lifestyle and find it rewarding (as one farmer writes, “I love what I do” even though it’s tough). But the bottom line is that actual farming involves real sweat and long hours.
Farming in Fantasy: Magic, Tools, and Big Harvests
In many anime and webtoons, farming is portrayed in a totally different light. Protagonists often get supernatural help. For example, in Farming Life in Another World, Hiraku Machio wishes to live a peaceful farming life and is granted a special magical tool. This All-Purpose Farming Tool can plow fields instantly, bless the soil, and even grow crops overnight. Hiraku himself never seems to get tired – “he appears to be not suffer from fatigue or exhaustion” when he works – unlike real farmers who would be exhausted after a full day.
Key ways the fantasy farms are easier:
Enchanted tools: Hiraku’s hoe magically “blesses” the field, turning dirt into fertile soil in moments. He doesn’t even need to sow seeds by hand – crops sprout almost instantly after he prays with the hoe.
Unlimited stamina: Thanks to his healthy body and magical gear, Hiraku can spend all day plowing, planting, and harvesting without getting worn out. Real farmers, by contrast, often feel physically drained after similar tasks.
Super productive yields: In the story, Hiraku’s farm gets three harvests a year (spring, summer, and autumn) and produces exceptionally high-quality crops. This kind of yield is unheard-of in reality without extraordinary conditions. The wiki even calls his farm “perhaps the most … farm in the world” because of its three annual harvests.
Always safe & ideal conditions: Fantasy farmers don’t usually worry about droughts, floods, or pests (or they have magic to stop them). Every crop succeeds, reinforcing the idea that farming is fun and easy in that world.
Because of these factors, characters in fantasy worlds often don’t think farming is hard at all. In fact, some series play with this idea. (For instance, a manhua titled People Actually Think Cultivation Is Hard? jokes about how a hero breezes through impossible tasks, similarly downplaying how tough things truly are.)
Conclusion: Fantasy vs. Reality
So, do people really think farming is difficult? In the real world, yes – farming is widely viewed as a challenging, full-time commitment that takes grit and knowledge (farmers themselves will tell you so). However, if you only see farming through anime or isekai stories, you might get the impression it’s peaceful and easy. In fiction, the tough parts of farming are often skipped or solved with magic, so characters (and fans) may wonder why anyone complains.
In summary, both perceptions have some truth. Real-life farming is indeed hard and demanding (long hours, unpredictable elements, heavy labor). But it’s also a noble, rewarding job for many. Meanwhile, fictional farming is shown as easier and almost magical – which makes it appealing to audiences but doesn’t reflect the full reality. The difference lies in context: real farmers respect the challenges of their work, while stories often glamorize farming to show a fulfilling “quiet life” with adventure.
Overall, farming is difficult in practice, but thanks to the allure of farms in media, some people might not realize how tough it truly is. Understanding both sides – the hard facts from actual farmers and the lighthearted fiction – gives the clearest picture of what farming really means.
