Risk and Coping Strategies of Vegetable Smallholder Farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan
Risk and Coping Strategies of Vegetable Smallholder Farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan
Abdul Hassan1*, Arshad Farooq1, Muhammad Ishaq2, Ghulam Sadiq2 and Asif Nawaz3
ABSTRACT
This study focused on farmers’ perceptions regarding climate and non-climate risk, their coping strategies and association to socioeconomic attributes. The study was carried out in two districts Nowshera and Charsadda of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan using principal component analysis approach and regression analysis. The data were collected randomly from 130 sampled vegetable growers comprised of 65 respondents each from Nowshera and Charsadda districts through pre-tested interview schedule during financial year 2020-21. Principal Component Analysis was used for determining the risk and coping strategies of the farmers. Moreover, Ordinary Least Square regression model was applied for determining the relationship among perceived risk source elements obtained from factor analysis and farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics. Land use for other than agriculture, lack of new knowledge according to climate, supplying inappropriate seed, fear to adopt improved practices that are not applied in village and land price changes had loading in production risk factors. Government programs and inadequate extension services had loadings in institutional risk factors while financial risk factors were no financial support by input dealers and no capacity to provide inputs. Fluctuation in input prices and market competition in- or sells-off had loadings in market risk factor while factors of human risk had loadings on facing difficulties in finding labor and migration of family members. Production strategies factor were weather forecast for adjusting production practices, adopt new technology and production diversity. Leasing inputs, market monitoring and switching to other markets had loadings in market strategy while maintaining good relationship with friends/relatives and maintaining good relationship with market actors in institutional strategy. Human strategy was related to engaging on off-farm employment for income generation and reducing hiring of labor for farm activities while financial strategy was related to sale of perennial crops and sale of livestock. The study suggested for sustainable smallholder agricultural development programs along with farmers’ facilitation by giving interest free loan and digitalization to update timely information regarding weather and markets for improving rural livelihood.
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