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Agricultural loans are critically linked with agricultural productivity. Agricultural productivity has a significant dependency on climate contingencies. This motivates us to explore the impacts of the climate change on recovery of agricultural loans caused by losses in agricultural productivity. Using panel data from 82 districts of Pakistan over a period of 21 years, i.e., 2000–2020, we estimate the sensitivity of agricultural productivity to climate change in each district. Using these sensitivities, we then apply Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) Regression to estimate whether climate change sensitivities of agricultural productivity have any impact on the recoveries of agricultural loans across the sampled districts. We find that the impact of climate change on agricultural loan recoveries is asymmetric. Specifically, negative sensitivities to climate change result in lower recoveries, while positive sensitivities led to enhanced loan recoveries. Our study is unique as it provides evidence of the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity as well as loan recoveries in a set of district-level data. We built a unique climate change index to measure the level of climate change and also introduced a framework to measure climate change sensitivities of agricultural productivity in our sample districts. We believe that this novel approach is an addition to the existing literature on climate change. We suggest that while devising agricultural and credit policies the governments and banks must consider investing in educating the farmer's on climate change adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent electricity shortages in Pakistan, causing prolonged grid power load shedding, have adversely impacted various sectors, notably agriculture and the livelihoods of rural farmers. Literature suggests that adopting photovoltaic solar energy can mitigate these issues. This research aims to measure the impact of photovoltaic solar energy on the technical efficiency of food productivity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, applying data from 580 respondents. Addressing self-selective bias through ESR and stochastic frontier production function model is utilized to assess technical efficiency. The findings of this study reveal that farmers using solar energy experience a significant improvement in technical efficiency, with 15.8 percent of them achieving a 7.643 percent increase, after accounting for self-selection bias. Furthermore, the positive effects are more pronounced among larger farms and those with greater farming experience. This study underscores the importance of evidence-based approaches in implementing solar energy solutions, highlighting their potential to foster sustainability and equitable development at the grassroots level. The research culminates with policy recommendations that underscore the importance of promoting the photovoltaic solar energy use among farmers to improve food security and increase agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do modern states allow parts of their territory to be governed by non‐state actors? We study this question using the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) in Pakistan, a British Colonial law abrogated only in 2018, which left governance to pre‐colonial tribal councils in large parts of modern day Pakistan. In areas where the FCR did not apply, the British and then Pakistani state built modern political and bureaucratic institutions. Using primary legal documents, we build a dataset of when and where the FCR applied between 1901 and 2012. The territorial extent of the formal state is both cleanly demarcated by this law and varies substantially over time, permitting an empirical examination of the determinants of state control. The data reveal that the Green Revolution's potential to transform agriculture played a major role in extending the formal state. The law was repealed first from areas where agricultural productivity benefited the most from the Green Revolution. This is consistent with a model in which technological changes that shift the returns to control influence where states choose to govern. This paper is part of the Economica 100 Series. Economica, the LSE "house journal" is now 100 years old. To commemorate this achievement, we are publishing 100 papers by former students, as well as current and former faculty. Michael Callen is an Associate Professor at the LSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring household food security and fighting hunger are global concerns. This research highlights factors affecting food security and solutions by utilizing a nexus of statistical and fuzzy mathematical models. A cross-sectional study was conducted in district Torghar, Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, among 379 households through a structured interview schedule. Further, the data were coded into SPSS for analysis, i.e., descriptive, and inferential statistics. In a binary logistic regression model, the study explored that agricultural productivity lag, population growth, and climate change all had a negative impact on household food security (P = 0.000). In addition, these results were further cross-checked through spherical fuzzy mathematics. The fuzzy results revealed that population growth is the most powerful factor deteriorating the existing equilibrium of household food security in Torghar. The study concluded that climate change, population explosion, and agricultural production were the major factors behind the hunger in the study area. Thus, designing a synergy based on taking all these aforementioned realities into consideration is the need of the hour. If extended, a comprehensive model of addressing these anomalies with a solely objective-based approach may work as a panacea for all ills. Lastly, this study contributes to the food security literature by introducing a new approach that is more robust and flexible than existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of citrus fruit is widespread and of great economic significance throughout the world's tropical and subtropical zones. However, inadequate management, efficient production technologies, and ineffective fungal spray schedule severe problems with the quality of Chinese lemon (Meyer lemon) grown in Pakistan. To increase the production of Meyer lemons while managing sustainable agricultural approaches, this study proposes using an optimal fungicide concentration and a mix of organic and conventional fungicides. To reduce the possibility of statistical error, the study employed a randomized complete block design over a vast region of 1.5 acres, with five treatments repeated three times. The primary goal of these treatments was to boost output while reducing their overall environmental footprint by using either organic or conventional fertilizers. Based on the study's findings, organic fungicides successfully maintain fruit quality and physical appearance compared to conventional (synthetic) fungicide treatments. However, organic fungicides produce slightly less yield than conventional fungicides; conventional fungicides control fruit dropping at the end of the fruit-picking season. However, combined treatment of conventional and organic fungicides and organic practices solved this problem. The T5 treatment was developed and successfully observed in the lemon field. This treatment (combines 250 EC Tilt and 200 ml Isabian) provided a sustainable method to enhance double agricultural productivity by 2030 while reducing environmental impact, and this study has important implications for farmers and landowners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural products are a fundamental necessity for every country. When plants are afflicted with diseases, it influences the country's agricultural productivity, as well as its economic resources. Diseases are an important problem for potato plants, causing potatoes to be rejected and resulting in financial losses. Viruses and diseases in potatoes and field plants can be missed with the naked eye, particularly in the early stages of cultivation. The use of modern instruments and technology at an early stage of disease diagnosis dramatically reduces costs. This study used deep learning techniques to categorize and detect plant leaf diseases in photos taken from the Plant Village dataset. The dataset consists of 20,636 photos of plants and their diseases. This study focused on potato plants because it is the most common type of plant in the world, particularly in Pakistan. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) methods were used to categorize plant leaf diseases into 15 classes, including three classes for healthy leaves and classes for several plant diseases such as fungal and bacterial infections, among others. The proposed models were trained and tested, achieving 98.29 and 98.029% accuracy, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study fills that gap by dividing Islamic finance into consumer financing (ICF) and producer financing (IPF) and assessing their quadratic role in agricultural productivity in Pakistan employing quarterly data from 2010 Q1 to 2020 Q4. We will also estimate a threshold point for each financing category. Methodology: This study has used auto-regressive distributive lag (ARDL) with quadratic specifications, which is based on quantitative time series analysis. Additionally, the nonlinear effect of Islamic financing is visualized by plotting the predicted coefficients. Findings: This research showed a u-shape profile for a quadratic model of IPF confirming the hypothesis of ’more finance, more growth’, whereas an inverted u-shape profile for the quadratic model of ICF confirming the hypothesis ’too much finance’. Empirical findings indicate that additional finance is not necessarily desirable, and highlighted that a ‘Threshold’ level is more important to facilitate agriculture output growth in Pakistan. Originality: This study adds to the body of knowledge regarding the threshold impact of Islamic financing on agricultural productivity. Policy Implications: One of the key implications to policy-makers is to reconsider Islamic financing policies to contribute significantly to Pakistan’s growth process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population in South Asia is increasing ever than a faster rate, subsequently; food security, climate change, and capital intensive agro farming techniques are the prevailing challenges in this region. This is a tri-country penal analysis, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, and the study covers the data throughout (1973–2020). This study has used modern farm input data besides demographic variables in the study. In this study, we use panel data set, ARDL (PMG) approach, autoregressive distributed lag model pooled mean group, which is an extensively dynamic modeling technique for heterogeneous data. The results of the study explore that transition in the demographic pattern in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh is the real cause of low crop productivity and land intensification. Technology innovation is the only ray of hope to fulfill the food demand of the future ahead and climate agriculture practices can hamper the further deterioration of the small farmlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts of various types are considered as a major threat to rainfed agriculture, because agricultural production is dependent on the spatio‐temporal distribution of rainfall. The rainfed regions of Pakistan, such as Potohar, have experienced several instances of drought since 2000. The most drought‐affected staple crop of the region is wheat, which ultimately affects regional food security. In this study, we examine the agricultural and the meteorological droughts in the Potohar region during 2000–2020, to create a drought risk map. This region comprises four districts, namely Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum and Rawalpindi. First, the agricultural and meteorological drought severity maps were created using rainfall data (meteorological data) and vegetation indices for three different periods (i.e., drought year, moderate drought year and normal year). The agricultural drought patterns and intensity were identified and evaluated using the MODIS products MOD09A1 and MOD11A2, while the meteorological droughts were identified using CHRIPS rainfall data. Afterwards, a combined drought risk map was generated by integrating the agricultural and meteorological adrought severity maps using a weighted overlay analysis. This drought risk map showed that Attock and Rawalpindi were expeiencing slight to no drought conditions, whereas the southwestern and central parts of Chakwal showed moderate drought conditions. Similarly, the western parts of Jhelum faced moderate drought conditions. Thus, the combined drought risk map may be a useful guide for decision makers in the local and provincial government. Using this map, they can identify adaptation practices in the drought‐prone areas of this region for enhancing agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global demand for crop production is rapidly growing due to the continued rise in world population. Crop productivity varies generally with soil nutrient profile and climate. The optimal use of fertilizers might help to attain higher crop yield in canola. To circumvent nutrient imbalance issues in soil, two separate field trials were conducted to determine (a) the best source of nitrogen (N) between ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4) and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), (b) significance of gibberellic acid (GA3) and potassium (K), in an attempt to enhance canola yield and yield attributes. Both experiments were carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The nitrogen source in the form of NH4)2SO4 (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg/ha) and NH4NO3 (0, 50, 75 and 100 kg/ha) was applied in the rhizosphere after 3 and 7 weeks of sowing, referred to as experiment 1 (E1). In another separate experiment (E2), the canola crop was sprayed with four level of GA3 (0, 10, 15, 30 g/ha) and K (0, 2.5, 3.5, 6 g/ha) individually or in combination by using hydraulic spryer, 30 days after sowing (DAS). The data was collected at different growth stages of canola and analyzed statistically. The E1 trail showed that N fortification in the form of NH4NO3 (100 kg/ha) and (NH4)2SO4 (30 kg/ha) had a positive effect on the plant height, number of branches, fruiting zone, seed yield per plant, seed yield per hectare of canola except oil percentage. Moreover, canola plants (E2) also displayed a significant improvement on all studied features with high doses of GA3 (30 g/ha) and K (6 g/ha) individualy and in combined form. The correlation coefficient analysis of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3 was highly significant to plant height, number of branches, fruiting zone, seed yield per plant, seed yield per hectare of canola In a nutshell, compared to both source of N, NH4NO3 was more efficient and readily available source of N. GA3 being a growth elicitor and potassium as a micronutrient serve as potential source to improve yield and to manage nutrient profile of canola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficiency in Agriculture sector is the main factor that limits the production of crops. During the cropping years 2016-17 and 2017-18, a field experiment was conducted at Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan, Pakistan with the objective to minimize the adverse impacts of water deficiency on wheat. In this study, two wheat cultivars Johar-2016 (Jr) and Gold-2016 (Gd) were tested with three types of osmoprotectants with control treatment (Cl = Control, Gb = Glycine betaine, Th = Trehalose, Pl = Proline) along with three different application methods (Sp = Seed priming, As = Application on Anthesis stage, Sp + As = Seed priming + Application on Anthesis stage) of osmoprotectants. All the osmoprotectants were applied at the rate of 150 mg/l of water while in control only water was sprayed. The crop was sown under RCBD with the splitsplit- plot arrangement. Water scarcity was enforced on the crop by giving 25.4 cm (62.5%) depth of water out of 40.64 cm (100%) of crop water requirement. Data was collected regarding crop growth and yield, crop water relation, grains quality, antioxidant contents and osmoprotectant contents. Mean data of both years were statistically analyzed. Results showed that interactive treatment Jr x Gb x Sp + As performed better in most of the parameters (e.g. 1000 Grain weight = 35.905 g, Grain yield = 4.6883 t ha-1, Biological yield = 10.367 t ha- 1) however interactive treatments Jr x Th x Sp + As (Starch contents = 58.14%) and Jr x Pl x Sp + As (Protein contents = 13.79%) were also remained fruitful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study analyzes the asymmetric effects of technical innovation, foreign direct investment, and agriculture productivity on Pakistan's environmental degradation from 1990 to 2020. A non-linear autoregressive model (NARDL) has been used for the analysis. The asymmetric effects have been computed for both the long and short run. The empirical results show that there is equilibrium long-run relationship among the variables. Moreover, it is found that the effect of FDI on CO2 emission is positive regardless of whether there are positive or negative shocks to FDI in the long run. The short-run results are similar except for the positive shocks to FDIat lag one, which reduces environmental degradation in Pakistan. However, in the long run, population growth and positive (negative) shocks to technical innovation have a negative and significant impact on CO2, whereas agriculture productivity is the main source of environmental degradation in Pakistan. The asymmetric tests show that FDI and agriculture productivity have strong asymmetric effects on the CO2 emissions in the long run, whereas there is weak evidence of, in the short and long run, asymmetric effects of technical innovations in Pakistan. These results are statistically significant, valid, and stable as per most of the diagnostic tests conducted and reported in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water salinity causes less production of agricultural productivity, low economic returns, soil destructions, less sustainability, and reduction in the germination rate. The current study was aimed to understand the combined potential of halophilic bacteria and rice husk in treating water salinity. In total, 10 halophilic bacterial isolates were isolated from Khewra Mines, Pakistan. Bacterial isolates were characterized by biochemical tests. 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the isolate SO 1 as Bacillus safensis (accession number ON203008) being the promising halophilic bacteria tolerating upto 3 M NaCl concentration. Next, rice husk was used as carbon source for bacterial biofilm formation, growth and propagation. For saline water treatment, the experimental setting comprising glass wool, rice husk and artificial sea water (3 M) was set. B. safensis biofilm was developed in test samples to desaline the saline water containing 3 M NaCl concentration. Following NaCl decline, flame photometric analysis was used to check the desalination extent of treated saline water. Results showed decreased sodium level in sea water in the presence of rice husk and glass wool. The eluted water used for the germination of Zea mays seeds showed improved growth performance. Also, decreased photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll "a" = 18.99, and chlorophyll "b" = 10.65), sugar contents (0.7593), and increased carotenoid (1526.91), protein contents (0.4521) were noted compared to control. This eco‐friendly approach for bioremediation of salt‐affected soils to optimize crop yields under stress through halophilic bacteria and rice husk may overcome the problem of the reduced yield of cash crops/agriculture and water shortage by salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study demonstrates the practical application of optical seed priming technology to improve cotton seed germination, plant growth, crop yield, and fiber quality. The hypothesis of this study is that seed irradiation with different colors of light can improve germination and cotton productivity in different environments. In the priming of cotton seeds, a wider range of the light spectrum was used, ranging from ultraviolet (UV) to red wavelengths. Various light sources such as blue LED, red LED, diode laser, UV-B, and UV-C were studied, along with different exposure times and energy densities. The exposure time ranged from 1.0 to 36.0 minutes, while the energy density doses varied from 88 to 7550 mJ cm-2, depending on the light source. In laboratory conditions, the investigation on the impact of optical seed priming on germination showed a maximum improvement of up to 180% compared to the control group. Among the different light sources and energy densities, blue LED light was found to be the most effective for enhancing cotton seed germination across different varieties. To validate the findings from the laboratory, large-scale field trials were conducted in two different environments in Pakistan, namely Tandojam and Faisalabad. The field trials demonstrated significant improvements in germination and yield, with increases of up to 37% and 74% over the control group, respectively. Once again, blue LED light emerged as the best light source for optical seed priming at the farm level. These field trials provided encouraging results, indicating the potential of the eco-friendly optical seed priming technique. The study suggests that optical seed priming can be a commercially viable technology for improving cotton seed germination, plant growth, crop yield, and fiber quality. By utilizing this technique, growers and researchers in developing countries can address the challenge of poor cotton germination and potentially enhance their agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, especially in regions with vulnerable economies such as Pakistan. This research article aims to explore the multifaceted impacts of climate change on crop yields within the country. By analysing historical climate and crop productivity data of 1977-2016 through the ARDL technique, the study identifies trends and patterns that suggest a strong correlation between climate change and fluctuations in crop productivity. Our findings highlight the need for climate-resilient crop development, improved agricultural technology, and the necessity for adaptive agricultural practices and robust policy interventions to reduce the adverse effects of a changing climate on crop productivity Furthermore, the potential of emerging technologies and farming techniques to enhance resilience in crops production, ensuring a crops supply for Pakistan's growing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop mapping and its health monitoring are of key importance for a country like Pakistan where a considerable share of the GDP originates from agricultural production. Currently, extensive capital and human resource are utilized to record the crop types and monitor crop health due to variations in crop pattern and intercropping practices being observed in many parts of the country. Satellite Remote Sensing, however, can be utilized very efficiently to identify crop types and estimate acreage by using unique phenological cycles derived from NDVI thresholds. In this research, we proposed a semi-automated, efficient and cost-effective state-of-the-art technique for crop classification using satellite remote sensing datasets and GIS techniques to replace outdated conventional survey-based crop estimations procedures. This research was conducted in Sahiwal district, Pakistan to categorise several crop types using two major inputs: satellite (Sentinel-2, 10m) imagery and local crop calendar. The research adopted a semi-automatic approach to find the main crops of Rabi (winter) and Kharif (summer) using orthorectified and atmospherically corrected Level-1C images to extract phenological information based on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The complete phenological life cycle of crops including sowing, growing, and harvesting stages were deeply analyzed with the help of crop calendar and NDVI profiles. Then this information passed through iterative selforganizing (ISO Data Model) of unsupervised classification technique in the form of temporal stacked images. The NDVI profiles of each crop were synchronized with the crop calendar of the study area to develop the crop categorization procedure. The results were validated with the statistics of the agriculture department Lahore and field samples gave about 85% and 88% accuracy for Rabi and Kharif cropping seasons respectively. It is concluded from the research that the tested methodology is capable of providing a fast, cost-efficient, and reliable solution for crop mapping instead of conventional survey-based crop area assessment techniques (conventional Girdawri) which requires a vast number of resources and time, and it can be replicated in different areas with minor changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is an integral constituent of Pakistan's economy and the primary source of livelihood for nearly 65% of the population living in rural areas. Rice is the second major staple food after wheat and a significant source of foreign exchange earnings through Basmati exports. Pakistan has established an extensive network of agricultural extension to educate the farming community about modern agricultural practices for enhancing the agricultural productivity of major food crops grown in the country. The present study was undertaken to evaluate rice farmers' views about public extension services and to identify their perspective regarding various ways of enhancing rice production in Pakistan. A multi-stage simple random sampling technique was employed, and data were collected from 193 rice farmers with the help of structured interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire. The findings revealed that a vast majority of the rice farmers were poorly satisfied with the public extension services. The results of the Spearman Rank-Order Correlation showed that landholding size had a significant effect on deciding extension contact; public extension agents are more likely to visit and serve those rice farmers who possess large landholders and therefore have the tendency to intentionally neglect small-scale rice farmers. For enhancing rice production in Pakistan, farmers believed that the provision of subsidized agricultural inputs and a minimum support price for rice is indispensable. Based on our findings, we suggest that to make public extension services more effective, public extension agents should particularly focus on the capacity building of small-scale farmers rather than large-scale farmers. Moreover, there is a need to broaden the scope of public extension services from simple crop protection measures to a set of comprehensive sustainable agricultural practices for increasing agricultural productivity, resource-use efficiency, as well as resilience toward adverse impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial growth and human activities are responsible for increasing environmental pollution. Soil salinity is a threat to crop production in the Pakistan. Fluoride behaves as an environmental pollutant, although it occurs in minor amount in earth's crust. Even at lower ambient fluoride concentrations, a number of physiological variations may be initiated in plant. Some of these variations may have important consequences like reduction in growth and yield. Tomato is an important vegetable globally and is also a significant crop of Pakistan. Present experiment was carried out to determine stress effects of sodium fluoride on growth responses and yield parameters. Tomato variety (Rio Grande) was used in experimental study during growth season 2019-2020. Plants were treated with 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 ppm concentrations of fluoride twice a week to create stress conditions. It was observed that morphological parameters, i.e., shoot length, root length, number of leaves, number of leaflets, and leaflet area were decreased under increasing NaF stress. Sequential reduction in biomass production was also analyzed. Yield parameters showed declining trend in their values at higher NaF stress, i.e., 300 ppm. By observing prominent reductions caused by NaF, present pot experiment proved toxic and deleterious effects of sodium fluoride on productivity and yield characteristics of tomato crop. So, tomato is sensitive crop towards salt-stress and its alleviation should be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In August 2022, one of the most severe floods in the history of Pakistan was triggered due to the exceptionally high monsoon rainfall. It has affected ~ 33 million people across the country. The agricultural losses in the most productive Indus plains aggravated the risk of food insecurity in the country. As part of the loss and damage (L&D) assessment methodologies, we developed an approach for evaluating crop-specific post-disaster production losses based on multi-sensor satellite data. An integrated assessment was performed using various indicators derived from pre- and post-flood images of Sentinel-1 (flood extent mapping), Sentinel-2 (crop cover), and GPM (rainfall intensity measurements) to evaluate crop-specific losses. The results showed that 2.5 million ha (18% of Sindh's total area) was inundated out of which 1.1 million ha was cropland. The remainder of crop damage came from the extreme rainfall downpour, flash floods and management deficiencies. Thus approximately 57% (2.8 million ha) of the cropland was affected out of the 4.9 million ha of agricultural area in Sindh. The analysis indicated expected production losses of 88% (3.1 million bales), 80% (1.8 million tons), and 61% (10.5 million tons) for cotton, rice, and sugarcane. This assessment provided useful tools to evaluate the L&D of agricultural production and to develop evidence-based policies enabling post-flood recovery, rehabilitation of people and restoration of livelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal of Plant Protection is the property of Arab Society for Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Modernization produces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions but is also able to achieve sustainable agriculture growth by introducing the concept of renewable energy into the agriculture sector, and through this process reduce the CO2 emissions in the country. The main objective of this research is to check the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis with CO2 emissions and economic development in renewable energy and agriculture subsectors such as fisheries and crop production in Pakistan. This study covers the time period 1984 to 2020. We have applied the autoregressive distribution lag (ARDL) bound test. The results indicate the existence of long-term association among all variables in the model. The result of co-integration in the short run shows a negative relationship between CO2 emissions and crop production in the current time period, and it shows a positive correlation with the first lag of CO2 emission, which means that current crop production reduces the CO2 emissions by 32% during a year, while in the lag period, it will increase in the short run. In the long run, a 1% increase in crop production will reduce the CO2 emission by 86%. Renewable energy shows a negative relation with CO2 emissions in the short run; a 1% increase in renewable energy will reduced the CO2 by 0.017%. Our results support the existence of the EKC hypothesis for Pakistan. In light of the findings, it is suggested that policy makers should focus more on renewable energy to decrease the level of CO2 as much as possible. Moreover, the government must provide subsidies for machines used for cropping and give special attention to subsectors such as livestock and fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted in a significant agricultural region to gauge farmers' knowledge of climate change adaption strategies. We employed a semi-structured questionnaire based on the literature; it was broken up into sections, and used certain statistical techniques (PLS-SEM) to examine the results. Farmers who had sufficient assets and resources thought they were safer and could withstand the adverse effects of climate change. A total of 900 completed questionnaires were gathered to investigate the link between the control, moderator, and DV variables in the future. As a consequence, the PLS-SEM path analysis findings showed that our model is fit. PLS-SEM direct path analysis revealed AM > FACC, UA- > FACC, SA- > FACC, FS- > FACC, PR- > FACC, and SI- > FACC are significant. The established hypotheses H1–H6 are strengthened by these findings. We also examined the respondents' ages and genders to use as controls; whereas gender showed no correlation with FACC, there was a strong link between age and the dependent variable. There is no statistically significant correlation between gender and climate change awareness, but older people tend to have a broader understanding of the topic and its consequences. Education significantly moderates the relationship of farmer's awareness (climate change) associated with AM, UA, SA, FS, PR, and SI. depicts the moderation role of education on the relationship between AM*Education- > FACC, UA*Education- > FACC, SA*Education- > FACC, FS*Education- > FACC, PR*Education- > FACC, and SI*Education- > FACC. H2a and H5a in this study showed significant correlations with education as a moderator; however, H1a, H3a, H4, and H6a did not demonstrate any moderator relationships. There is a medium to strong correlation between various factors, and the correlation values of a few chosen variables are significant when compared to all other variables in the current study. Highly significant correlations were found between PR, SA, SI, and UA with FACC. Governmental policies and effective monitoring systems will be developed as a result of the research to enable integrated and sustainable water development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DRYLAND crop production is restraining due to severe effects of drought spells and natively derived resilient isolates can support crop yield enhancement under abiotic stress. This study elaborated for isolation, morpho-physiological, biochemical characterization and molecular identification of indigenous soil microbes from Thal desert of Pakistan and their application to elucidate the efficacy of desert isolates on yield of chickpeas growing on three farmer fields (Kakri, Adhi Kot and Jara) of native area. Isolates were identified through 16sRNA sequencing and used to formulate eight consortia with different combination. Four isolates (Bacillus subtilis RP-01, Enterobacter cloacae RP-08, Bacillus mojavensis RS-14 and Providencia vermicola RS-15) have ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Protease, catalase, ACCdeaminase and EPS, among, the two strains RP-01 and RP-08 were found phosphate solubilizer and others two isolates Mesorhizobium ciceri RZ-11 and Mesorhizobium ciceri RZ-22 were appeared as ammonia producing. The consortia in T7 showed highest grain yield (1201kg ha-1) followed by T2 (1126kg ha-1) at same location (Kakri) comparatively to other consortia and control (557kg ha-1). Similarly, T2 found most promising consortia regarding grain yield (1072.1kg ha-1 and 961.8kg ha-1) at locations Adhi Kot and Jara, respectively during the 1st year. However, T4 also performed with par to T2 and T7 consortium and same trend was seen in the next year field experiments. The present study confirmed that T2 (Mesorhizobium ciceri RZ-11 + Bacillus subtilis RP-01 + Bacillus mojavensis RS-14), T4 (Mesorhizobium ciceri RZ-11 + Enterobacter cloacae RP-08 + Providencia vermicola RS-15) and T7 (Mesorhizobium ciceri RZ- 22 + Enterobacter cloacae RP-08 + Providencia vermicola RS-15) are promising consortia for chickpeas yield in Thal desert of Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water management and distribution rules in flood-based livelihood systems (FBLS) have a key role in enhancing system-wide productivity and livelihoods. While such potential has to a certain extent been harnessed in DG Khan FBLS in Pakistan, it has not yet been fulfilled in the Tana River and Fogera FBLS in Kenya and Ethiopia, respectively. These three systems are considered among the major sources of water and food security in their respective regions by the local governments and communities. Drawing from 105 individual interviews with Pakistani FBLS farmers, the paper establishes that a package of water management and distribution rules have significantly contributed to (a) mitigating excessive upstream floodwater use, (b) reducing downstream water scarcity and (c) realizing nearly 4 tons ha-1 harvest of the major wheat crop across the upstream and downstream areas. This yield is about 20% higher than the country-wide average, and two-third of the maximum achievable. Furthermore, 86% of the upstream and three in four of the downstream farmers have managed to cover their livelihood needs that included health, school, housing, transportation, energy and food expenses. On the other hand, the analyses based on individual interviews with 94 and 147 FBLS farmers from Kenya and Ethiopia respectively, uncovered the negative consequences of the absence of a comprehensive package of water management and distribution rules. In Kenya, the downstream small-scale farmers that account for two-third of the Tana River FBLS population frequently suffer from floodwater scarcity. They could not cultivate the high return rice crop and their staple maize yield was low at about 1.25 tons ha-1 or 20% of the maximum attainable. Four in five reported poor livelihoods. The upstream largescale farmers however often diverted excessive floodwater; over 90% usually grow rice as well as maize as a second crop for home consumption. The situation in Fogera is similar. The water distribution rules prioritized the upstream rice cultivation introduced a decade back to boost economic growth. This, as informed by 95% of the interviewed farmers, has caused downstream floodwater scarcity, about 30% maize yield reduction and livelihood deterioration. These findings on the impacts of water distribution rules can contribute to formulating investments that better achieve the productivity and livelihood potentials of FBLS across Africa and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study emphasizes the spatio-temporal expansion of built-up areas and its impact on farmland and primary crop production of Peshawar valley, Pakistan. The build-up needs to be with more significant planning to avoid any inconvenience among agricultural land and infrastructure. Built-up is necessary; however, it is worth mentioning to feed 11.23 million people in the district. The region's land is the most fertile and productive in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Data were taken from the Agricultural Bureau of Statistics from 1990 to 2020, and the satellite imageries of the region were acquired from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). ARIMA technique is employed to get the forecasted values regarding Acreage, Yield, and Production of crops till 2050 in Peshawar valley. Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) were used to analyze the satellite imageries. The analysis showed a persistent increase in built-up areas from 1990 to 2020 as the built-up area increased by 57090 hectares. However, the barren land indicates a decreasing pattern of growth, decreasing by 102452 hectares in Peshawar valley. The analysis disclosed a consistent increase in the Production of crops. On the other hand, the per capita share of inhabitants in crop production showed a decreasing trend from 1990 to 2020, attributed to the rapid increase in population. The prediction showed that the per capita share of inhabitants in major crop production would decrease further. In 2050, the study area will be unable to feed its inhabitants due to the rapid increase in population and the built-up environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A light weight zone disc tiller drill was redesigned and developed employing Solid works and AutoCAD software's. For field performance evaluation of the machine, the experimental trials were conducted at Post Graduate Research Station, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. An area of 2.5 ha (6.12 acres) was divided into two halves; one-half of the area was used for the conventional method of maize planting and the second half was used for maize planting by redeveloped zone disc tiller drill. It was observed that under the conventional method, extensive field preparation operations were performed, whereas no field preparation had been done for planting maize with a zone disc tiller drill. After harvesting the paddy crop, the zone disc tiller drill was passed through the standing stubble field and planted the maize seed in one pass. Crop planting results with zone disc tiller drill and conventional method under three levels of irrigation and three levels of fertilizer levels were compared for their impact on the crop parameters including emergence rate index, root length, root shoot ratio, shoot length, root fresh weight, root dry weight, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight. All the data were statistically analyzed and found that the emergence rate index by using a zone disc tiller drill was 1.43 times greater than that under conventional maize planting. The emergence rate index at irrigation level I3 (after 4 days) was 1.23 times greater than that at I2 (after 6 days) and 1.40 times greater than that at I1 (after 8 days). The value of the emergence rate index at fertilizer level F3 (148.2 kg ha-1) was 1.61 times greater than that at F2 (123.3 kg ha-1) and 3.32 times greater than that at F1 (98.8 kg ha-1). Plant shoot dry weight by using a zone disc tiller drill was 1.68 times greater than that observed under the conventional maize planting method. It was concluded from the cost analysis that the cost of sowing maize with a zone disc tiller drill on an area of one hectare was less as compared to the conventional method (tillage + sowing). The proposed study showed that the newly designed machine could sow maize seed in rice stubble field within an acceptable cost, saves time, improve soil physical parameters, and crop parameters for better production of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural production is under threat due to climate change in food insecure regions, especially in Asian countries. Various climate-driven extremes, i.e., drought, heat waves, erratic and intense rainfall patterns, storms, floods, and emerging insect pests have adversely affected the livelihood of the farmers. Future climatic predictions showed a significant increase in temperature, and erratic rainfall with higher intensity while variability exists in climatic patterns for climate extremes prediction. For mid-century (2040-2069), it is projected that there will be a rise of 2.8 °C in maximum temperature and a 2.2 °C in minimum temperature in Pakistan. To respond to the adverse effects of climate change scenarios, there is a need to optimize the climate-smart and resilient agricultural practices and technology for sustainable productivity. Therefore, a case study was carried out to quantify climate change effects on rice and wheat crops and to develop adaptation strategies for the rice-wheat cropping system during the mid-century (2040-2069) as these two crops have significant contributions to food production. For the quantification of adverse impacts of climate change in farmer fields, a multidisciplinary approach consisted of five climate models (GCMs), two crop models (DSSAT and APSIM) and an economic model [Trade-off Analysis, Minimum Data Model Approach (TOAMD)] was used in this case study. DSSAT predicted that there would be a yield reduction of 15.2% in rice and 14.1% in wheat and APSIM showed that there would be a yield reduction of 17.2% in rice and 12% in wheat. Adaptation technology, by modification in crop management like sowing time and density, nitrogen, and irrigation application have the potential to enhance the overall productivity and profitability of the rice-wheat cropping system under climate change scenarios. Moreover, this paper reviews current literature regarding adverse climate change impacts on agricultural productivity, associated main issues, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable productivity of agriculture to ensure food security in Asia. Flowing opportunities such as altering sowing time and planting density of crops, crop rotation with legumes, agroforestry, mixed livestock systems, climate resilient plants, livestock and fish breeds, farming of monogastric livestock, early warning systems and decision support systems, carbon sequestration, climate, water, energy, and soil smart technologies, and promotion of biodiversity have the potential to reduce the negative effects of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of recent climate changes, extension services have become crucial drivers in disseminating information about the latest agriculture technologies and facilitating sustainable agricultural productivity. Pakistan's traditional extension cannot yield the expected outcomes which corroborate the introduction of a participatory approach, mainly in farmers' field schools. Using farm-level data from Punjab province, the current study examined the impact of farmers' field schools (FFS) on adopting sustainable agriculture practices (SAPs) and citrus yield. The study employed recursive bivariate probit and propensity score matching to explore the objectives. The findings revealed that FFS participants had a higher SAPs adoption than non-participants, demonstrating the positive impact of FFS on the uptake of SAPs. Moreover, the treatment effect showed that FFS participants had a higher yield than the non-participants. The results suggest strengthening and enhancing FFS reach among citrus growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is posing serious threats to sustainable development and global food security. During the last decade, Pakistan Agro-based economy drastically affected by climatic extreme especially the cotton crop production of Pakistan. This study designed to investigate climatic vulnerability of cotton-wheat cropping system in current time and devise adaptation packages for the farmers to better adapt the climate change. The primary, secondary and modeled data of crop (APSIM and DSSAT) and climate models was utilized in this study. The survey was conducted through a well-structured questionnaire from southern Punjab. The Tradeoff Analysis Model for Multi-dimensional Impact Assessment was utilized to find the current vulnerability and adaptations for the cotton-wheat cropping system. Results revealed that for cotton crop there is high yield reduction due to climate change, as cotton is sensitive to variation in climate. In hot dry and hot wet GCMs (General circulation model) reduction is huge and increase in temperature at specific stages cause lack of germination of seed or complete death of the plant. Wheat is relatively less vulnerable, benefits due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide compensate the losses due to elevated temperature. Yield reductions due to climate change will increase the poverty rate and reduce net farm returns and per capita income of the farming community. For current adaptations regarding climatic hazards that would increase the crop yields also includes fertigation, efficient irrigation, import of gene variety, crop insurance, and enterprise diversification. The suggested management interventions will reduce the losses and improve the farm livelihood. Crop insurance and agricultural credit must be insured for farmers to better adapt the climatic extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multiobjective linear program for the optimal allocation of water resources among various crops in a large canal command area of Pakistan. The available surface water in the canal cannot meet the net irrigation requirement (NIR) of various crops, which leads to the overexploitation of groundwater and causes salinity problems. Therefore, an optimal water allocation model was formulated using the simultaneous compromise constraint (SICCON) technique for the sustainable development of surface water and groundwater. Three (03) single objective functions (OFs) and a multiobjective function (MOF) were considered in this study. The MOF combines the single OFs by developing an arrangement among them to both maximize the satisfaction rate for surface water (SRs) and net economic returns (NER) and minimize the salinity problems. The available surface water (AW) of 1531 Mm3 was allocated among various crops, i.e., wheat, cotton, sugarcane, rice, onion, and sunflower, using the SICCON technique, and the deficit was accounted for with groundwater reserves. The model results showed an average increase of 22% in SRs and 7.2 million USD in NERs from surface water allocation compared to the current water allocation practice. Moreover, the salinity levels of the allocated water exceed the threshold limits of onion, sugarcane, and rice crops in the current water allocation system and thereby negatively impact agricultural production. Hence, the model used in this study may support decision-makers in the optimal selection of different crops to be irrigated to maximize the SRs and NERs and minimize salinity problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture sector is the backbone of Pakistan's economy, reflecting 26% of its GPD and 43% of the entire labor force. Smart and precise agriculture is the key to producing the best crop yield. Moreover, emerging technologies are reducing energy consumption and cost-effectiveness for saving agricultural resources in control and monitoring systems, especially for those areas lacking these resources. Agricultural productivity is thwarted in many areas of Pakistan due to farmers' illiteracy, lack of a smart system for remote access to farmland, and an absence of proactive decision-making in all phases of the crop cycle available in their native language. This study proposes an internet of agricultural things (IoAT) based smart system armed with a set of economical, accessible devices and sensors to capture real-time parameters of farms such as soil moisture level, temperature, soil pH level, light intensity, and humidity on frequent intervals of time. The system analyzes the environmental parameters of specific farms and enables the farmers to understand soil and environmental factors, facilitating farmers in terms of soil fertility analysis, suitable crop cultivation, automated irrigation and guidelines, harvest schedule, pest and weed control, crop disease awareness, and fertilizer guidance. The system is integrated with an android application 'Kistan Pakistan' (prototype) designed in bilingual, i.e., 'Urdu' and 'English'. The mobile application is equipped with visual components, audio, voice, and iconic and textual menus to be used by diverse literary levels of farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ownership and access to land remains a long-standing issue of concern in Pakistan. The unequal land distribution is well documented. Although agriculture employs half of the country's workforce, an estimated 60% of rural households are landless. In this setting rental markets play an important role in facilitating access to land. In this paper, we empirically examine key factors that influence the amount of land rented in. Specifically, we explore the relationship between one's endowment of land and the amount of land rented in. We perform our analysis using the Pakistan Rural Household Panel Survey round 3.5 conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in 2014-2015. The survey covers a wide range of topics including household characteristics, crop production, land management, farm assets, land inheritance and tenure security. Agricultural production activities are recorded for the Rabi season (2013-2014) and the Kharif season 2014. Of the 1027 household observations taken from the Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan, the average household's endowment of land is 3.4 acres. Our regression analysis indicates that households with larger endowments of land rent in less land. For an additional acre of land endowment, the amount rented in decreases by 0.32 acres. This number is economically significant given the high proportion of smallholdings and the prevalence of landlessness in Pakistan. Hence, households with smaller initial endowments of farmland rely more heavily on the rental market to achieve scale in food production. Additionally, we provide evidence that household size and asset ownership influence rental patterns. On average, an additional household member would increase the amount of land rented in by 0.12 acres. Tractor ownership also has a positive effect on the amount of land rented in. However, our regression estimates suggest that transaction costs are present in the farmland market thus preventing renters from reaching their optimal farm size. These results are relevant to ongoing efforts to support and enhance agricultural productivity in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study also focuses and analyses the farmers’ inclination and their usage of smart phone for agricultural extension. This research is based on survey research method in which a closed-ended questionnaire was developed after the review of relevant literature. Furthermore, purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used to collect the data from the respondents who are farmers in Punjab. The study was conducted during the year 2020 in the selected district of Bahawalnagar. Overall results elaborate that age and education were among the factors that accounted for familiarity with apps. However, 42.9 percent of the respondents with the age 30 to 40 were somehow familiar with Agri-apps and 17.3 percent of respondents with twelve years of schooling were familiar with the apps usage. Likewise, 37 respondents in age bracket of 20 to 30 were of the view that usage of apps have resulted in increased agricultural production. It was concluded that age and education of the respondents had significant impact on the usage and familiarity of the apps available on smart phones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Asia and the Pacific, the agriculture sector is the most important, but it is also the most at risk from climate chnage. Droughts are one of the main sources of disaster risks that can change yield levels and cause sizeable productivity losses in agricultural products. In response, the farmers are taking a number of climate-related risk-reduction steps. As a result, this study has investigated farmers' preferences for climate change adaptation strategies as well as their socioeconomic determinants. A random sample of 200 farmers in Nowshehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were surveyed. A multivariate probit model was used in the study to determine the relationship between independent variables and farmers decisions to implement a specific adaptation strategy. According to the findings of the study, the most common methods of coping with drought were rainwater harvesting, soil conservation, changing crop planting dates, ponds, and terraces with spillways. Furthermore, the study highlighted the role of socio-economic determinants in the adoption of these adaptation strategies. In light of these findings, the government may choose to help these farmers by providing them with ponds and water storage facilities. It is critical to educate farmers about climate change so that they can develop strategies to mitigate its negative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is the major economic sector in Asian countries and the majority of their population depends on it. In addition to the largest irrigation system in the Indus basin, Pakistan is suffering from water shortages that are affecting the overall crop production of the country. Different resource conservation technologies (RCTs) such as precision land leveling (PLL), raised bed planting (RBP), and different high-efficiency irrigation systems (HEISs) can be opted for better water productivity. In this study, the potential of these RCTs has been explored to enhance production and save irrigation water through their sustainable adoption. Based on studies by different researchers, water savings up to 47% and yield increases up to 35% have been reported under PLL, while water savings up to 50% and about 10–33% yield increases were observed under RBP. Similarly, under different HEISs, water savings up to 80% and yield increases up to 53% have been reported compared with crops sown under conventional farming. Based on the findings of the researchers regarding RCTs, these have been proved as progressive sowing techniques for better productivity under the limited available water scenario. The detailed review in this paper concludes that RCTs resulting in the improvement of gravity irrigation methods, viz., PLL and RBP, have a great potential of adoption and water productivity improvement at the regional scale in developing countries such as Pakistan, while high-cost HEISs can also be promoted at limited scale among progressive farmers for high-value agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa is known as a super food due to its extraordinary nutritional qualities and has the potential to ensure future global food and nutritional security. As a model plant with halophytic behavior, quinoa has potential to meet the challenges of climate change and salinization due to its capabilities for survival in harsh climatic conditions. The quinoa crop has received worldwide attention due to its adoption and production expanded in countries out of the native Andean region. Quinoa was introduced to Pakistan in 2009 and it is still a new crop in Pakistan. The first quinoa variety was registered in 2019, then afterward, its cultivation started on a larger scale. Weed pressure, terminal heat stress, stem lodging, bold grain size, and an unstructured market are the major challenges in the production and promotion of the crop. The potential of superior features of quinoa has not been fully explored and utilized. Hence, there is a need to acquire more diverse quinoa germplasm and to establish a strong breeding program to develop new lines with higher productivity and improved crop features for the Pakistan market. Mechanized production, processing practices, and a structured market are needed for further scaling of quinoa production in Pakistan. To achieve these objectives, there is a dire need to create an enabling environment for quinoa production and promotion through the involvement of policymakers, research institutions, farmers associations, and the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An empirical study was conducted to investigate the role of tube well irrigation on overall agriculture production in District D.I. Khan during 2018. In this respect, only 100 sampled farmers were interviewed with the assistance of a well-designed structured questionnaire using simple random sampling procedure. Regression analysis as a statistical method was used to assess the impact of tube well irrigation on agriculture production, household annual income, poverty line, kinds of land, sources of irrigation and inputs used on land. The significant (P<0.05) impact of household annual income of farmers was observed on agriculture production. The significant (P<0.01) impact of household annual income of farmers had kept farming community above poverty line and the significant (P<0.05) relationships noticed between kinds of land and sources of irrigation, which in turn inducing farmers to become regular user of tube well irrigation. The significant (P<0.01) impact of inputs used on the adaptation of efficient networks of tube well irrigation in Dera Ismail Khan District. The results of the study concluded that those farmers who had used tube well irrigation as a source of irrigation in the area, benefited a great deal, and as a results their per household annual income were found sufficient enough to keep them above poverty line. Most of the farmers were of opinion that after the introduction of tube well irrigation, farmers found it profitable to bring uncultivated land under cultivation, enhancing the overall agricultural production in District Dera Ismail Khan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic agricultural production practices are generally often regarded environmentally and eco-friendly compared to conventional methods, primarily because they prevent the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that may have untoward effects on human health and the environment. It lessens the risk of chemical residues in soil and food. Farmers' decision about organic farming practices is important due to several factors mainly the consumer demand for organic products continues to rise, organic farmers often receive premium prices for their produce and potentially enhance their own economic viability. So, the farmers' decision play an imperative role in the adoption and diffusion of organic farming practices. However, these factors and their effects remain untapped for the organic production practices. The study identified the factors affecting farmers' decision to adopt organic production technology particularly in context of socio-economic and information and communication technologies (ICTs). A sample of 300 respondents were selected by using a purposive random sampling technique from villages of Lahore Pakistan. The outcomes obtained through the multinomial regression technique revealed that literacy level of farmers, access to ICT tools, access to credit, membership in farmers association, contact with food super stores, no use of chemicals, participation of farmers in training programs were influencing the farmers' adoption decision to adopt organic production practices significantly. Thus, the research recommends that government officials, policy makers, farming community and agribusiness value chain actors should consider these traits when promoting smart agricultural practices to improve the well-being of associated stakeholders. Certainly, initiating awareness campaigns and pilot projects with joint involvement of public and private sectors may be highly effective in educating farming communities. Ultimately, the outcomes of this research work may navigate behavioral and cognitive dynamics to facilitate the adoption of organic production practices within the farming community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to investigate the effect of climatic and non-climatic factors on rice production by employing an annual time series data from the period of 1970 to 2018. The study employed an ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag) approach, and the long-term equilibrium linkages between the variables have been discovered. Additionally, the study also used a regression model to determine the robustness for the authentication of results. The Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Canonical Cointegration Regression (CCR) methods, and the VECM (Vector Error Correction Model) technique confirmed the long-run causal relationships amid the variables. The empirical results further revealed that climatic factors including annual temperature negatively affect the rice crop production, while carbon dioxide emission positively influenced via long-run. Similarly, non-climatic factors like area under rice crop, fertilizer consumption, labor force, and water availability affect the rice production positively in the long-run analysis. Finally, the pairwise Granger causality test revealed that both climatic and non-climatic variables had a substantial impact on rice yield in Pakistan. Based on the study's findings, the government and policy makers should formulate alleviation polices to tackle with harsh effects of climate change and consistent adoption of measures to secure overall agricultural production including rice crop because it is a country stable food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most serious challenge to the global facade is figuring out how to mitigate pollution levels without compromising agricultural productivity. The spillover effect of environmental change is predicted to be very high, although it will differ by region and crop. Considering this view, this study tries to address this issue by adopting comprehensive methodologies to assess the influence of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, agricultural labor, land, feeds, and fertilizers on agricultural productivity in Pakistan from 1961 to 2018. The autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) and wavelet transform coherence (WTC) approaches are applied to estimate the long-run and short-run elasticity estimates. The empirical findings discover that CO2 emissions, agricultural land, labor, feed, and fertilizers exert high pressure on agricultural productivity which is backed up by the WTC findings. Furthermore, the gradual shift causality test results reveal the presence of a unidirectional causality relationship between all regressors and agriculture productivity, demonstrating that all the factors significantly influence agriculture productivity. Moreover, these findings are robust to different robustness tests that we perform to test the reliability/accuracy of our core results. From policy perspectives, regulations must be developed to explore a practicable expansion strategy that includes the use of efficient fertilizers and feed at optimal levels, as well as environmental protection through public–private investment in the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research attempts to evaluate the linkage among climatic change factors such as average temperature and rainfall patterns and non-climatic factors such as the area under major yield crops, fertilizer consumption, and formal credit on major food crop yield from 1985 to 2016 in Pakistan. For the first step, we checked the stationarity of the series by utilizing the unit root tests. An autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model was employed to identify the linkages between variables after verifying the properties over a specific period of time. The consequences of this study confirmed the long-run association between climatic and non-climatic factors to the major food crop yield in Pakistan. Furthermore, the outcomes of the study revealed that temperature has a diverse impact on major food crop yields. Whereas, the area under major food crops, average rainfall, fertilizer consumption, and formal credit have a positive impact on major food crop yield in Pakistan. For the second step, we used the Granger causality test to verify the causal linkage for the variables. The outcomes reveal a significant effect of climatic and non-climatic factors on major food crop yield. The bidirectional causality causal associations are found to be significant among variables including average temperature, fertilizer consumption, and formal credit disbursement. The empirical results further indicated that major food crop yields are more affected by climatic factors such as average temperature as compared to non-climatic factors. Based on the study findings, few recommendations are made to cope with factors of climate change. Invent such agricultural-specific adaptation policies for farmers which possess the ability and resilience to tackle climate change. Research and development in agriculture should focus on major varieties of food crops that can endure high temperatures. The agriculture industry will be able to sustain long-term production and distribution efficiency attributable to these strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture sector plays a vibrant role in the economic prosperity of advanced and developing countries. It is a crucial source of revenue for the majority of the population. Nevertheless, unfortunately, in Pakistan, the share of the agricultural sector in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is gradually declining. Therefore, comprehensive strategies and actions need to be developed and implement to enhance the agricultural productivity of Pakistan. In this study, an attempt has been made to examine the crop yield revenue of Punjab, Pakistan, by ranking the districts according to their contribution to the agricultural GDP of Pakistan's economy. A Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique, namely, characteristic objects method (COMET), which is entirely free of the rank reversal paradox, is used for this purpose. However, to make a fair comparison, in this research, a comprehensive framework is proposed to normalize the crop yield revenue of Punjab under probabilistic nature. The proposed framework is applied to various districts of Punjab, Pakistan, from 1992 to 2019. It is concluded that Jhang, Faisalabad, and Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) are the highest-ranked districts, while Nankana Sahib, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad are the lowest-ranked districts of Punjab, Pakistan, according to their contribution to the agricultural GDP of Pakistan's economy. Outcomes associated with this research would be helpful to build precise and accurate budget allocation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical and future projected changes in climatic patterns over the largest irrigated basin in the world, the Indus River Basin (IRB), threaten agricultural production and food security in Pakistan, in particular for vulnerable farming communities. To build a more detailed understanding of the impacts of climate change on agriculture s in the IRB, the present study analyzes (1) observed trends in average temperature, precipitation and related extreme indicators, as well as seasonal shifts over a recent historical period (1997–2016); and (2) statistically downscaled future projections (up to 2100) from a set of climate models in conjunction with crop-specific information for the four main crops of the IRB: wheat, cotton, rice and sugarcane. Key findings show an increasing trend of about over 0.1 °C/year in observed minimum temperature across the study area over the historical period, but no significant trend in maximum temperature. Historical precipitation shows a positive annual increase driven mainly by changes in August and September. Future projections highlight continued warming resulting in critical heat thresholds for the four crops analyzed being increasingly exceeded into the future, in particular in the Kharif season. Concurrently, inter-annual rainfall variability is projected to increase up to 10–20% by the end of the 21st century, augmenting uncertainty of water availability in the basin. These findings provide insight into the nature of recent climatic shifts in the IRB and emphasize the importance of using climate impact assessments to develop targeted investments and efficient adaptation measures to ensure resilience of agriculture in Pakistan into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study empirically explores the interaction between agricultural production, female employment, consumption of renewable energy, and carbon dioxide emissions in Pakistan. We have used annual data from 1991 to 2015, extracted from the World Bank database. The findings of this study establish an inverse and significant connection between agricultural production, female employment, consumption of renewable energy, and CO 2 emissions during empirical estimations through the ARDL model and robust analysis. This negative connection indicates that adding value in agricultural production, increasing level of female employment and increasing share of renewable energy consumption help reduce CO 2 emissions in Pakistan. Additionally, the residual outcomes confirm no serial correlation, no heteroskedasticity, and no stability problem. Furthermore, this study proposes important policy recommendations to mitigate environmental CO 2 emissions. For instance, the government should encourage and incentivize farmers to use advanced types of machinery during the agriculture production process. The wage difference between men and women should be minimized, and employment protection policies for women should be introduced by the government to provide a sense of work security to women. The government should provide a special reward system for those farmers who use renewable energy sources instead of using conventional energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Output is determined by the efficiency with which available technologies are used i.e. with the improvement in technical efficiency. There are extensive numbers of studies focusing on efficiency as a means of fostering agriculture production. The article reviews the literature devoted to technical efficiency analysis in various countries and its applications to agricultural production. The studies reviewed focused particularly on rice and wheat making them the most studied agricultural product by researchers. The review of efficiency analysis shows that agricultural output can be increased without additional inputs with given existing technology. Technical efficiency of agricultural crops like wheat, paddy, cotton etc grown in different countries of the world like India, Pakistan, Ethopia, Srilanka were reviewed and it was found that except for farm size, the variables like farmer education and experience, contacts with extension personnel and access to credit, tend to have a positive and statistically significant impact on technical efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited progress has been made in the area of risk management for small farmers in Pakistan. Thus, in this review based study, maximum efforts have been made to collect relevant information on the topic from available published sources over last two decades. The local information is supplemented by synthesis of information about regional as well as non-regional countries. In the country, wide gap in agricultural productivity exists between average and progressive farmers that is causing difficulty for small farmers in managing risks. Small farmers are unable to access and compete in high end agricultural markets. Profitability of major crops is quite low and producers' shares in consumer rupee are also quite low for fruits and vegetables. It affects farmers' capacity to invest in the sector. While, in the farming business, disbursement of right amount of credit at appropriate time is a key challenge. Similarly, cost of borrowing is inversely related to size of land holding. Thus, small farmers are to rely on informal sector for finances and bear high interest rate on small size loans. Their crop choices depend on productivity and price risks and prudent risk sharing among themselves. Furthermore, their choice to diversify farms also depends on consumption price risk. Illiteracy and inability to read or write make them susceptible to various personnel and human health risks. Crop and livestock insurance schemes, Kissan package, value chain contract financing are the initiatives taken by the public and formal sector banks to support small resource poor farmers. However, there is lack of coordination among agriculture related provincial institutions, provinces as well as with and within federal institutions. Similarly, absence of institutional arrangement and regulatory framework is resulting in vulnerability of livelihood for small farmers as well as undue pressure on natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-ovary wheat (three pistil) is a unique germplasm for the seed production of hybrid wheat. The purpose of the present study was to transfer the multi-ovary trait to semi-dwarf plants to increase the production of grains in wheat crops. Therefore, tall, semi-dwarf, and dwarf plants were crossed with plants with the three-pistil trait. A three-pistil tall plant was used as the female parent, while tall (Synthetic hexaploid), semi-dwarf, and dwarf plants were used as male parents. F1 and F2 progenies with parents were planted in 2015-16 using RCBD. The outcome of the crosses showed that multi-ovary tall plants gave significant difference for all five traits (days to maturity, plant height, number of seeds per spike, grain weight per spike, and grain yield per unit area) in both generations. The greatest number of grains per spike and grain yield per unit area were obtained from the cross of three-pistil tall and dwarf parent (P1/P6) in the F1 and F2 generations. The cross also resulted in a significant reduction in height (96 cm). Further heterosis studies conducted with crosses between three-pistil tall and dwarf parent (P1/P6) showed the greatest heterosis and heterobeltiosis for the number of grains per spike (60.0 and 26.19%, respectively) and grain yield per m2 (27.68 and 2.85%, respectively). In the case of grain weight per spike, the heterosis value was also positive and significant (17.7). Meanwhile, for other traits, their values were negative for heterosis and heterobeltiosis. High numbers of grains and grain weight were found to be associated with positive heterobeltiosis and in turn the grain yield per m2, but plant height and maturity had negative affirmation with heterobeltiosis. Heterosis studies also indicated the dominant gene action for the three-pistil trait. Thus, the study clearly signified that grain yield can be increased by using the multi-ovary genotype with the semi-dwarf height. This new germplasm will be helpful for breeders to increase the production of wheat crops in the southern climate of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Asian governments have introduced renewable energy policies for the reduction of CO2 emissions while keeping up with the demand for food by enhancing agricultural production. Therefore, it is a need to examine the efficiency analysis of agriculture by incorporating CO2 emissions as a bad output for measuring sustainability in their agriculture practices. Also, the study calculated the potential reduction of CO2 emissions and the usage of fertilizers to make agricultural practices sustainable and environmentally efficient. This study estimated the productivity change, technical, and environmental efficiency of rice production for selected South Asian countries. Data were obtained from the FAO‐STAT website from 2002 to 2014. The change in rice productivity was measured through total factor productivity (TFP) scores by applying the Malmquist Index (MI) approach. Traditional data envelopment analysis (DEA) models and Slacks based model (SBM‐DEA) were applied for the measurement of technical and environmental efficiency, respectively. The results of the MI approach showed that Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were found to have positive changes in TFP. The results of technical and environmental efficiency indicated that Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India were found efficient throughout the study period. Afghanistan and Pakistan were found environmentally most inefficient. The slack obtained from the SBM‐DEA indicated that Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka had a huge potential to reduce CO2 emissions and usage of fertilizers. Furthermore, this study provides an overview of the sustainable status of agriculture and also provides suggestions in selected South Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]