FARMERS PERCEPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE PRODUCTION OF MAIN CROPS IN THE BALOCHISTAN PROVINCE OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate farmers’ perception of climate change and its impact on major crop production in Balochistan and to forward policy recommendations. A multistage sampling technique was used for the selection of 120 sampled farmers from 3 main agriculture districtsLoralai, Killa Saifullah, and JaffarAbad. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from sampled farmers. Descriptive statistical techniques such as mean, mode, percentages, frequency, and standard deviations were calculated to analyze data on households’ socioeconomic characteristics and their response to different climatic factors and technology adaptation questions for climate change. Results reveal that the sampled farmers correctly perceived decreased rainfall, increased temperature, and frequent drought in the study area and how changes in these factors have affected the availability of groundwater and changes in winter and summer seasons during the last thirty years. An increase in temperature and drought resulted decrease in the production of wheat and rice in both irrigated and non-irrigated ecology; while in the case of maize, the production increased in irrigated ecology. The reduced winter and long summer seasons have a negative impact on wheat production and a positive impact on the production of maize because farmers are now growing 2-3 crops of maize per season. The government should invest in research and development of crop varieties that are more resilient to temperature increases, low humidity, and drought conditions, particularly for wheat and rice.