This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Many farmers worldwide resort to choosing various income-earning options for diversifying their income sources as a means of risk-avoidance, social protection, and, above all, to finance agricultural operations. Non-farm income generation among farm families has become an imperative part of livelihood earning strategies in recent years amid fast-evolving climatic and sociodemographic changes. In this regard, this study seeks to identify the patterns and socioeconomic factors responsible for the uptake of various non-farm income diversification sources among agricultural households in southern Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, a total of 290 farm households were sampled using a random sampling technique to collect relevant data through structured questionnaires. Results show that approximately 79% of the surveyed farmers were involved in non-farm income generation activities, whereas, the income from these sources accounts for about 15% of total household income. The majority of the respondents offered labour for off-farm work followed by self-employment ventures. The major reason to pursue non-farm work includes low income from agriculture, mitigating risks associated with farming, and acquiring funds to finance farming operations, along with the desire to increase family income. A range of socioeconomic and infrastructure-related variables are associated with the decision to participate in specific off-farm activity, such as age, education, family size, farm income, dependency burden, farming experience, and distance to the main city. Results imply the provision of technical support to increase livelihood from farming operations to ensure food security and curb rural-urban migration. However, vocational training can enhance the rural inhabitants’ skillset to diversify on the farm through agribusiness development within rural areas, enabling them to employ local people instead of populating urban centres.
Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Muhammad Rizwan; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Sohail Amjad Makhdum; Rakhshanda Kousar; Muhammad Nazam; Abdus Samie; Nasir Nadeem. A Quest for Livelihood Sustainability? Patterns, Motives and Determinants of Non-Farm Income Diversification among Agricultural Households in Punjab, Pakistan. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9084 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Amjed Iqbal, Muhammad Rizwan, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Sohail Amjad Makhdum, Rakhshanda Kousar, Muhammad Nazam, Abdus Samie, Nasir Nadeem. A Quest for Livelihood Sustainability? Patterns, Motives and Determinants of Non-Farm Income Diversification among Agricultural Households in Punjab, Pakistan. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9084.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Amjed Iqbal; Muhammad Rizwan; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Sohail Amjad Makhdum; Rakhshanda Kousar; Muhammad Nazam; Abdus Samie; Nasir Nadeem. 2021. "A Quest for Livelihood Sustainability? Patterns, Motives and Determinants of Non-Farm Income Diversification among Agricultural Households in Punjab, Pakistan." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9084.
Increasing rice production has become one of the ultimate goals for South Asian countries. The yield and area under rice production are also facing threats due to the consequences of climate change such as erratic rainfall and seasonal variation. Thus, the main aim of this work was to find out the supply response of rice in Malaysia in relation to both price and non-price factors. To achieve this target, time series analysis was conducted on data from 1970 to 2014 using cointegration, unit root test, and the vector error correction model. The results showed that the planted area and rainfall have a significant effect on rice production; however, the magnitude of the impact of rainfall is less conspicuous for off-season (season 2) rice as compared to main-season rice (season 1). The speed of adjustment from short-run to long-run for season-1 rice production is almost two-and-a-half years (five production seasons), while for season-2 production, it is only about one-and-a-half year (three production seasons). Consequently, the study findings imply the supply of water to be enhanced through better water infrastructure for both seasons. Moreover, the area under season 2 is continuously declining to the point where the government has to make sure that farmers are able to cultivate the same area for rice production by providing uninterrupted supply of critical inputs, particularly water, seed and fertilizers.
Ghulam Mustafa; Azhar Abbas; Bader Alotaibi; Fahd Aldosri. Do Erratic Rainfalls Hamper Grain Production? Analysis of Supply Response of Rice to Price and Non-Price Factors. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1463 .
AMA StyleGhulam Mustafa, Azhar Abbas, Bader Alotaibi, Fahd Aldosri. Do Erratic Rainfalls Hamper Grain Production? Analysis of Supply Response of Rice to Price and Non-Price Factors. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (8):1463.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGhulam Mustafa; Azhar Abbas; Bader Alotaibi; Fahd Aldosri. 2021. "Do Erratic Rainfalls Hamper Grain Production? Analysis of Supply Response of Rice to Price and Non-Price Factors." Agronomy 11, no. 8: 1463.
Arable farming is an intrinsically risky enterprise. Therefore, managing risks and uncertainties in agriculture is very important as it affects all sectors of the economy of a developing country like Pakistan. To do so, a whole suite of options is available to the farming community to safeguard against any type of risk. However, farmers’ behavior of the concurrent adoption of multiple risk management tools is largely ignored in previous studies and has formed the rationale for this research. Thus, the current study is intended to investigate farmers’ decisions of adopting risk management strategies (contract farming, off-farm income diversification, and farm credit use) and to examine the impacts of a variety of factors on farmers’ risk management decisions. The present study is carried out in four districts of Punjab province, Pakistan with a focus on hybrid maize growers. A multivariate probit model is used to evaluate the impacts of independent variables on growers’ choices of adopting contract farming, off-farm income diversification, and farm credit use to manage farm risks keeping in view the potential for the concurrent adoption of these risk management strategies. Results show that 78% of farmers are risk-averse and hence ready to manage risks. The top risk faced by farmers is price risk followed by biological, climatic, and financial risks. Contract farming is the most popular strategy (61% farmers) followed by off-farm income diversification (49% farmers), and the use of farm credit (42% farmers). The findings also reveal that the decisions of adopting risk management strategies are interlinked while the adoption of one risk management tool complements farmers’ decision to adopt other risk management strategies. In addition, the risk management strategies’ adoption choices are affected by the number of factors including socioeconomic characteristics, farmers’ risk perceptions about risk sources, and their attitude towards risk. The study recommends the provision of timely information (climatic, extension) along with easy access to farm credit and the streamlining of contractual arrangements.
Shoaib Akhtar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Iqbal; Muhammad Rizwan; Abdus Samie; Muhammad Faisal; Jam Sahito. What Determines the Uptake of Multiple Tools to Mitigate Agricultural Risks among Hybrid Maize Growers in Pakistan? Findings from Field-Level Data. Agriculture 2021, 11, 578 .
AMA StyleShoaib Akhtar, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Rizwan, Abdus Samie, Muhammad Faisal, Jam Sahito. What Determines the Uptake of Multiple Tools to Mitigate Agricultural Risks among Hybrid Maize Growers in Pakistan? Findings from Field-Level Data. Agriculture. 2021; 11 (7):578.
Chicago/Turabian StyleShoaib Akhtar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Iqbal; Muhammad Rizwan; Abdus Samie; Muhammad Faisal; Jam Sahito. 2021. "What Determines the Uptake of Multiple Tools to Mitigate Agricultural Risks among Hybrid Maize Growers in Pakistan? Findings from Field-Level Data." Agriculture 11, no. 7: 578.
This paper is aimed at evaluating the factors affecting the concurrent adoption of two risk coping strategies among hybrid maize farmers, namely income diversification supplemented with off-farm work and contract farming in the wake of changing climatic conditions. Climatic changes and food insecurity at the national level have emerged as key risk elements for hybrid maize production due to varying economic conditions. The present paper addresses these risks by examining various sources of risks faced by hybrid maize farmers and develops ideas to tackle these risks. Bivariate and multinomial probit models were employed to analyze numerous factors that influence farmers’ choice of the simultaneous adoption of income diversification (both on and off the farm) and contract farming at the farm level. The results reveal that hybrid maize farmers’ socioeconomic attributes significantly affect their adoption of risk coping tools. Similarly, the climatic, economic (price-related), biological, and financial risk perceptions and risk preference significantly influence the utilization of risk coping strategies in maize production. These outcomes extend our understanding of farmers’ risk preferences and provide parameters for policymakers to forestall diverse risk sources associated with hybrid maize production.
Shoaib Akhtar; Azhar Abbas; Hazem Kassem; Salim Bagadeem; Raza Ullah; Bader Alotaibi. Sustainable Crop Production, the Concurrent Adoption of Contract Farming, and Managing Risks through Income Diversification. Agronomy 2021, 11, 973 .
AMA StyleShoaib Akhtar, Azhar Abbas, Hazem Kassem, Salim Bagadeem, Raza Ullah, Bader Alotaibi. Sustainable Crop Production, the Concurrent Adoption of Contract Farming, and Managing Risks through Income Diversification. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (5):973.
Chicago/Turabian StyleShoaib Akhtar; Azhar Abbas; Hazem Kassem; Salim Bagadeem; Raza Ullah; Bader Alotaibi. 2021. "Sustainable Crop Production, the Concurrent Adoption of Contract Farming, and Managing Risks through Income Diversification." Agronomy 11, no. 5: 973.
Climate change is severely damaging the agricultural system of many food producing regions worldwide. Small/subsistent livestock herders are the most vulnerable and less resilient group towards climatic disasters within South Asian region including Pakistan. The adoption of climate-smart practices would be beneficial for small livestock herders because of its potential to ensure food security, improve income, and sustain development simultaneously. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing small livestock herders’ adaptation decisions towards changing climate by conducting field-based research. We intend to understand how institutional factors, risk perceptions, adaptations, and personal constraints affect the adaptation decisions related to climate change mitigation and choice of adaptation strategies. For this purpose, a primary data set of 405 small livestock herders from Punjab, Pakistan was used. The regression results of empirical models reveal the probability of adopting specific climate change strategies. The study results showed that zero adaptation (non-adoption) to climate change is higher when there is low literacy rate, less experience, nuclear family system, lack of institutional services, and low level of risk perception about climate change. The marginal outcome showed that the livestock herders with positive risk perception and access to the institutional services do participate more frequently in a higher number of adaptations options for economic and ecological benefits. Therefore, it is suggested that government and other development actors should strengthen institutions for trust building among local community groups and to reduce individuals’ risks. Moreover, effective insurance schemes could facilitate small livestock herders to keep less but more productive livestock. The study recommends building viable and potential weather index insurance schemes which will result meaningful marginal scale benefits for smallholders. Finally, the results of major constraints suggest that it is necessary to provide awareness of climatic vulnerabilities, timely information delivery, and adequate financial facilities to offset resource constraints of livestock herders in order to adopt sustainable strategies at their farms.
Muhammad Faisal; Xia Chunping; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Haseeb Raza; Shoaib Akhtar; Muhammad Arslan Ajmal; Abdelrahman Ali. Do risk perceptions and constraints influence the adoption of climate change practices among small livestock herders in Punjab, Pakistan? Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2021, 28, 43777 -43791.
AMA StyleMuhammad Faisal, Xia Chunping, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Haseeb Raza, Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Arslan Ajmal, Abdelrahman Ali. Do risk perceptions and constraints influence the adoption of climate change practices among small livestock herders in Punjab, Pakistan? Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2021; 28 (32):43777-43791.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Faisal; Xia Chunping; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Haseeb Raza; Shoaib Akhtar; Muhammad Arslan Ajmal; Abdelrahman Ali. 2021. "Do risk perceptions and constraints influence the adoption of climate change practices among small livestock herders in Punjab, Pakistan?" Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28, no. 32: 43777-43791.
This paper investigates the local community support for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) using the lens of social exchange theory. The study examines the direct effect of social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors on the local community support for CPEC projects, and the resultant impacts on the development and sustainability of the rural economy of Pakistan. The study also explores the moderation effect of media influence on shaping positive perceptions of CPEC among the local populace. The local communities at the CPEC route which are affected or can be affected by the project were targeted for data collection using a structured questionnaire. The collected valid data (N = 259) were thoroughly analyzed by obtaining reliability and validity statistics, a correlation matrix, multiple regression, moderation analysis, and hypotheses testing. Our results substantiate that the local community support for the CPEC project is heavily dependent on social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors and that there is a positive influence of media impact as an opinion-maker in the local community regarding the CPEC. The CPEC is expected to develop the rural economy, particularly through improvements in agriculture and allied activities, thereby providing livelihoods and income-generating opportunities to the rural masses. The article is important for regulators, the CPEC authority, government bodies, and the relevant community.
Inam Khalil; Sehresh Hena; Usman Ghani; Raza Ullah; Inayatullah Jan; Abdul Rauf; Abdul Rehman; Azhar Abbas; Luan Jingdong. Development and Sustainability of Rural Economy of Pakistan through Local Community Support for CPEC. Sustainability 2021, 13, 686 .
AMA StyleInam Khalil, Sehresh Hena, Usman Ghani, Raza Ullah, Inayatullah Jan, Abdul Rauf, Abdul Rehman, Azhar Abbas, Luan Jingdong. Development and Sustainability of Rural Economy of Pakistan through Local Community Support for CPEC. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (2):686.
Chicago/Turabian StyleInam Khalil; Sehresh Hena; Usman Ghani; Raza Ullah; Inayatullah Jan; Abdul Rauf; Abdul Rehman; Azhar Abbas; Luan Jingdong. 2021. "Development and Sustainability of Rural Economy of Pakistan through Local Community Support for CPEC." Sustainability 13, no. 2: 686.
Climate change is a serious threat to agriculture in many developing countries including Pakistan. Changing the pattern of climate and its extreme conditions have already led to a decline in crop productivity. However, farmers in developing countries experience risks beyond just climate change, many of which are related to policy, strategy, and factor endowments. The impact of these risks have serious implications for food security, rural livelihood, farm households’ wellbeing, and, above all, their motive to adapt to these changes in the long-term. To have an in-depth knowledge of farmers’ perceptions about the changing climate, this study investigates various aspects such as the determinants of perception about various risk sources and the relevant mitigation and adaptation options. To do so, 480 farmers from agriculture-dominated Punjab provinces were randomly selected in order for us to evaluate their awareness levels, socioeconomic dynamics that influence their perceptions, and various factors that influence their perceptions to achieve the desired findings. We applied the principle factor analysis approach to ascertain major sources and strategies based on farmers’ perception and planned/practiced options. Further, regression analysis was done to evaluate the factors influencing the perception levels of farmers about risk sources. The results showed that majority of the farmers faced various risks, and were trying to adapt crop husbandry practices towards these perceived risks. Change in agricultural policies (3.96) was placed as the highest risk source, while the need for small dams/turbine schemes was the top priority for risk management strategy (mean value of 4.39). By observing the effect of farm and farmer’s characteristics on risk sources and risk management strategies, it was revealed that these characteristics ominously provoked farmers’ perspectives about risk sources and management strategies. The findings imply the need for coherent environmental policy that encompasses price stability, community-led adaptation campaigns, and easy/uninterrupted flows of information that enables the farming community to facilitate sustainable decision processes.
Muhammad Iqbal; Azhar Abbas; Syed Naqvi; Muhammad Rizwan; Abdus Samie; Umar Ahmed. Drivers of Farm Households’ Perceived Risk Sources and Factors Affecting Uptake of Mitigation Strategies in Punjab Pakistan: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9895 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Iqbal, Azhar Abbas, Syed Naqvi, Muhammad Rizwan, Abdus Samie, Umar Ahmed. Drivers of Farm Households’ Perceived Risk Sources and Factors Affecting Uptake of Mitigation Strategies in Punjab Pakistan: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (23):9895.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Iqbal; Azhar Abbas; Syed Naqvi; Muhammad Rizwan; Abdus Samie; Umar Ahmed. 2020. "Drivers of Farm Households’ Perceived Risk Sources and Factors Affecting Uptake of Mitigation Strategies in Punjab Pakistan: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture." Sustainability 12, no. 23: 9895.
Land use and land cover changes (LULCC) significantly affect the climate at regional and global levels through different biogeophysical and biogeochemical processes. However, the effects of biogeophysical aspects of LULCC on climate have been often ignored, which may overestimate the biogeochemical effects on climate change. Thus, understanding the biogeophysical influence of land use changes on climate change in future potential scenarios is crucial. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the mechanism and land use change impacts on future climate under different scenarios through changes in underlying surface and surface energy balance. In order to fill this research gap, three simulations are performed by Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model for the year 2010–2030 under Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario, Rapid Economic Growth (REG) scenario, and Coordinated Environmental Sustainability (CES) scenario to evaluate the influence of future LULCC on temperature projections for the Punjab province in Pakistan. Results show that land use conversions under three scenarios induce overall climate cooling in the region. The decrease in annual average temperature in CES scenario (− 0.02 °C) is slightly greater than that in BAU and REG scenarios (− 0.01 °C). The responses of temperature to future LULCC vary in different months in all scenarios, with greater responses in warmer months, causing climate cooling. In each scenario, the response of temperature is found to be sensitive to different land transitions. The findings of the study can be a reference for policy makers, researchers, and development practitioners in their pursuit to understand the effects of land use change on climate.
Abdus Samie; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Masood Azeem; Sidra Hamid; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Shaikh Shamim Hasan; Xiangzheng Deng. Examining the impacts of future land use/land cover changes on climate in Punjab province, Pakistan: implications for environmental sustainability and economic growth. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2020, 27, 25415 -25433.
AMA StyleAbdus Samie, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Masood Azeem, Sidra Hamid, Muhammad Amjed Iqbal, Shaikh Shamim Hasan, Xiangzheng Deng. Examining the impacts of future land use/land cover changes on climate in Punjab province, Pakistan: implications for environmental sustainability and economic growth. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2020; 27 (20):25415-25433.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAbdus Samie; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Masood Azeem; Sidra Hamid; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Shaikh Shamim Hasan; Xiangzheng Deng. 2020. "Examining the impacts of future land use/land cover changes on climate in Punjab province, Pakistan: implications for environmental sustainability and economic growth." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27, no. 20: 25415-25433.
The livelihood of the people in the Himalayan range of Pakistan is largely dependent on the cultivation of fruits. Apricot and apple are the major fruits of this region, which are marketed throughout the country and also exported to other countries. Due to high perishability and the poor farm-to-market infrastructure in the region, farmers are unable to get maximum returns. This study was conducted keeping in view the importance of the region and the impacts of fruits on the livelihood of the farmhands. Cross-sectional data from 200 respondents were collected through a multistage random sampling technique. Factor analysis was employed to find out the constraint in the apricot production and propensity score matching estimates were employed to see the impact of apricot production on the farming communities in the study area. The results of the factor analysis show the most important group of constraints in the growth of the apricot industry is awareness, which is an internal factor. This is followed by production, policy, and marketing constraints. The least important is processing technology. Furthermore, the results show that apricot production has a significant positive impact on decreasing the poverty level of the household, depicting a great potential for the development of resilient livelihoods.
Rakhshanda Kousar; Muhammad Sohail Amjad Makhdum; Azhar Abbas; Javaria Nasir; Muhammad Asad Ur Rehman Naseer. Issues and Impacts of the Apricot Value Chain on the Upland Farmers in the Himalayan Range of Pakistan. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4482 .
AMA StyleRakhshanda Kousar, Muhammad Sohail Amjad Makhdum, Azhar Abbas, Javaria Nasir, Muhammad Asad Ur Rehman Naseer. Issues and Impacts of the Apricot Value Chain on the Upland Farmers in the Himalayan Range of Pakistan. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (16):4482.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRakhshanda Kousar; Muhammad Sohail Amjad Makhdum; Azhar Abbas; Javaria Nasir; Muhammad Asad Ur Rehman Naseer. 2019. "Issues and Impacts of the Apricot Value Chain on the Upland Farmers in the Himalayan Range of Pakistan." Sustainability 11, no. 16: 4482.
Climatic changes pose serious risks to the rural community’s livelihoods of many developing countries whereas people in mountainous regions are exposed to multiple hazards with limited livelihood resources and heavy dependence on natural resources. The objective of the current study is to assess the livelihood practices and adaptive capacity of a mountainous region of Pakistan, the Balakot, where people are highly vulnerable to climatic changes. The study uses a triangulation method to explore various issues and options of climate change risks sand adaptation and impact of well-being on resilience capacity and livelihood strategies. For this purpose, ten focus group discussions (FGDs) with carefully selected key informants and structured interviews with randomly selected 200 local households are conducted to evaluate different hazards and their associated livelihood effects. It is observed that the changing climate has significantly influenced livelihoods of the local community in the recent past through resource degradation, gradual unavailability of sufficient basic services (quantity and quality of drinking water, crop food diversity, fuel wood, and non-timber forest products), low agricultural productivity, and social inequity viz. income distribution, health, education, and food storage. Such a brunt is felt disproportionately more by poor households due to their low adaptive capacity to climate change with constrained livelihood resources. The study emphasizes the need for targeted efforts to move from coping strategies to adaptations among people considering their social inequalities. Timely information sharing, livelihood diversification and preservation of livelihood resources such as crop and forest production, livestock grazing, creating awareness on the pace, and pattern of climate change in the region and subsequent role of adaptation options are major interventions that should be emphasized by the public bodies.
Laila Shahzad; Arifa Tahir; Faiza Sharif; Waqas Ud Din Khan; Muhammad Ansar Farooq; Azhar Abbas; Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib. Vulnerability, well-being, and livelihood adaptation under changing environmental conditions: a case from mountainous region of Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2019, 26, 26748 -26764.
AMA StyleLaila Shahzad, Arifa Tahir, Faiza Sharif, Waqas Ud Din Khan, Muhammad Ansar Farooq, Azhar Abbas, Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib. Vulnerability, well-being, and livelihood adaptation under changing environmental conditions: a case from mountainous region of Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2019; 26 (26):26748-26764.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaila Shahzad; Arifa Tahir; Faiza Sharif; Waqas Ud Din Khan; Muhammad Ansar Farooq; Azhar Abbas; Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib. 2019. "Vulnerability, well-being, and livelihood adaptation under changing environmental conditions: a case from mountainous region of Pakistan." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26, no. 26: 26748-26764.
Far-reaching changes in the domestic and global markets are crafting big avenues for farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs. This study examines the agriculture entrepreneurship and farmers’ performance in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A survey was conducted to collect primary data from three agricultural zones adjacent to the under-construction CPEC in Pakistan. According to the results, market orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, innovation orientation, and opportunity recognition positively influence agriculture entrepreneurship thereby facilitating timely distribution of food commodities in ensuring food security. Our findings also indicate that uptake of entrepreneurship complements farmers’ marketing, operational and economic performance. These findings do imply that improving farmers’ entrepreneurial skills is the essential element for their improved performance in terms of locating potential markets and timely delivery of primary commodities, such as food items. It suggests that farmers might seek enormous economic opportunities arising from improved infrastructure, output linkages, connectivity and access to global markets through the CPEC. Based on the findings, the study provides implications for policymakers to channelize the potential endeavors for facilitating the farmers’ access to new markets and getting the foremost advantage of Belt and Road Initiative. The study also extends the existing literature on agriculture entrepreneurship-opportunity recognition and access to new markets in a befitting manner.
Ali Sher; Saman Mazhar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Xiangmei Li. Linking Entrepreneurial Skills and Opportunity Recognition with Improved Food Distribution in the Context of the CPEC: A Case of Pakistan. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1838 .
AMA StyleAli Sher, Saman Mazhar, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Amjed Iqbal, Xiangmei Li. Linking Entrepreneurial Skills and Opportunity Recognition with Improved Food Distribution in the Context of the CPEC: A Case of Pakistan. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (7):1838.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAli Sher; Saman Mazhar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Xiangmei Li. 2019. "Linking Entrepreneurial Skills and Opportunity Recognition with Improved Food Distribution in the Context of the CPEC: A Case of Pakistan." Sustainability 11, no. 7: 1838.
Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) has recently received increasing attention from researchers and the business community. Due to globalization and changing consumption patterns, agri-food industries have undergone a transformation, and the sustainability of agri-food supply chains has also received greater attention. However, the issues of SSCM at the upstream level of the supply chain in agri-food industries have not been adequately empirically studied. This paper aims to list key issues or constraints in the production and marketing through farmers’ group discussions, supplemented by the literature, and empirically identifies key constraints to SSCM of the citrus industry in Pakistan. The paper used cross-sectional data from 300 farmers involved in the production and marketing of citrus in Punjab, Pakistan. Farmers were asked to answer on a Likert scale data about potential constraints identified from the literature and farmers’ group discussions. Kendell’s coefficient of concordance and the mean ranking technique was used to rank and to identify the critical constraints in the production and marketing of citrus. In addition, factor analysis (principal component analysis) was used for the grouping of these constraints. In production constraints, factors, such as fertilizer, pesticide, and seed quality, climate change, high production cost, and agricultural labor performance, are important. These constraints are aligned with some key marketing factors, such as packaging, grading, and storage facilities. The findings convey messages for policymakers to solve these issues and challenges at the upstream level of the SSCM chain in the citrus and related agri-food industries.
Muhammad Naseer; Muhammad Ashfaq; Sarfraz Hassan; Azhar Abbas; Amar Razzaq; Mubashir Mehdi; Anoma Ariyawardana; Mumtaz Anwar. Critical Issues at the Upstream Level in Sustainable Supply Chain Management of Agri-Food Industries: Evidence from Pakistan’s Citrus Industry. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1326 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Naseer, Muhammad Ashfaq, Sarfraz Hassan, Azhar Abbas, Amar Razzaq, Mubashir Mehdi, Anoma Ariyawardana, Mumtaz Anwar. Critical Issues at the Upstream Level in Sustainable Supply Chain Management of Agri-Food Industries: Evidence from Pakistan’s Citrus Industry. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (5):1326.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Naseer; Muhammad Ashfaq; Sarfraz Hassan; Azhar Abbas; Amar Razzaq; Mubashir Mehdi; Anoma Ariyawardana; Mumtaz Anwar. 2019. "Critical Issues at the Upstream Level in Sustainable Supply Chain Management of Agri-Food Industries: Evidence from Pakistan’s Citrus Industry." Sustainability 11, no. 5: 1326.
Various measures are adopted by flood-prone households for the mitigation of flood risk along with various post-flood coping strategies. We analyze the role of various ex ante household-level flood mitigation strategies in influencing riverine flood damages. The study also presents an account on the linkages of various ex post coping strategies and flood damages experienced in a flood event in Pakistan. For achieving a uniform flood damage indicator, polychoric principle component analysis (PCA) is employed to construct a composite flood damage index considering various aspects of economic, social, and psychological impacts of a flood event. The adjusted flood damage index is regressed on various socioeconomic features and ex ante mitigation actions to know their effect on the former. Results indicate that distance from river, elevating house, and pre-shifting investigating about flooding problem help in significantly reducing the overall flood damages. Likewise, group-based actions like voting political candidates based on their flood-control promises, organizing grass-root group meetings, and raising voices through memos/petitions are found to significantly reduce flood-related damages while leaving house premises before flooding is found to increase the overall flood damage. Post-flood coping strategies comprise of social and financial support along with some livelihood diversification and disinvestment strategies such as selling livestock, jewelry, and withdrawing children from schools. Borrowing money, reducing food consumption, and agricultural diversification are more prevalent strategies among low and medium damage groups while consuming savings is more conspicuous among high damage group. The study concludes with the emphasis on policy interventions for effective early warning, location-specific flood intensity information, and proper streamlining of planning process and compensation system.
Azhar Abbas; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Muhammad Usman; M. Amjed Iqbal; Muhammad Arshad; M. Adnan Shahid; Klaus Müller. Sustainable survival under climatic extremes: linking flood risk mitigation and coping with flood damages in rural Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2018, 25, 32491 -32505.
AMA StyleAzhar Abbas, T. S. Amjath-Babu, Harald Kächele, Muhammad Usman, M. Amjed Iqbal, Muhammad Arshad, M. Adnan Shahid, Klaus Müller. Sustainable survival under climatic extremes: linking flood risk mitigation and coping with flood damages in rural Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2018; 25 (32):32491-32505.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAzhar Abbas; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Muhammad Usman; M. Amjed Iqbal; Muhammad Arshad; M. Adnan Shahid; Klaus Müller. 2018. "Sustainable survival under climatic extremes: linking flood risk mitigation and coping with flood damages in rural Pakistan." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25, no. 32: 32491-32505.
This study aims to assess food security status of rural, peri-urban and urban households and role of socio-economic factors in ensuring food security. A survey was conducted to collect primary (quantitative) data from 630 respondents using proportionate sampling technique from Punjab, Pakistan. Cronbach’s Alpha reveals stability (>0.75) of data scale items. Using Dietary Intake Assessment (DIA), findings reveal urban households as highly food-secure whereas rural household as most vulnerable to food security at 2450kcal/day per person. Study indicates food price increase as the leading factor in preventing food security among households. Contrary, study identifies risk factors associated to food quality under the abundant availability and access as the new dimension to household food insecurity. Further, results of binary logit model show that socio-economic factors such as monthly income, total number of earners, education of household head and access to market are positively related with food security status whereas, social isolation, volatility in food prices and risk factors in food quality are negatively related with household food security. Therefore, study proposes educational orientation and entrepreneurial development as sustainable solution to ensure food security among masses. Besides, further country level researches are advised to deep delve the mounting menace of food security.
Ali Sher; Saman Mazhar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Li Xiangmei. Who is more Food Secure among Rural, Peri-urban and Urban Households in Pakistan? Results from a field survey in Punjab province. 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleAli Sher, Saman Mazhar, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Amjed Iqbal, Li Xiangmei. Who is more Food Secure among Rural, Peri-urban and Urban Households in Pakistan? Results from a field survey in Punjab province. . 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAli Sher; Saman Mazhar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Li Xiangmei. 2018. "Who is more Food Secure among Rural, Peri-urban and Urban Households in Pakistan? Results from a field survey in Punjab province." , no. : 1.
The command area of the Rakh branch canal grows wheat, sugarcane, and rice crops in abundance. The canal water, which is trivial for irrigating these crops, is conveyed to the farms through the network of canals and distributaries. For the maintenance of this vast infrastructure; the end users are charged on a seasonal basis. The present water charges are severely criticized for not being adequate to properly manage the entire infrastructure. We use the residual value to determine the value of the irrigation water and then based on the quantity of irrigation water supplied to farm land coupled with the infrastructure maintenance cost, full cost recovery figures are executed for the study area, and policy recommendations are made for the implementation of the full cost recovery system. The approach is unique in the sense that the pricings are based on the actual quantity of water conveyed to the field for irrigating crops. The results of our analysis showed that the canal water is severely under charged in the culturable command area of selected distributaries, thus negating the plan of having a self-sustainable irrigation system.
Muhammad Uzair Qamar; Muhammad Azmat; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Usman; Muhammad Adnan Shahid; Zahid Mahmood Khan. Water Pricing and Implementation Strategies for the Sustainability of an Irrigation System: A Case Study within the Command Area of the Rakh Branch Canal. Water 2018, 10, 509 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Uzair Qamar, Muhammad Azmat, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Adnan Shahid, Zahid Mahmood Khan. Water Pricing and Implementation Strategies for the Sustainability of an Irrigation System: A Case Study within the Command Area of the Rakh Branch Canal. Water. 2018; 10 (4):509.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Uzair Qamar; Muhammad Azmat; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Usman; Muhammad Adnan Shahid; Zahid Mahmood Khan. 2018. "Water Pricing and Implementation Strategies for the Sustainability of an Irrigation System: A Case Study within the Command Area of the Rakh Branch Canal." Water 10, no. 4: 509.
The use of inverse methods allow efficient model calibration. This study employs PEST to calibrate a large catchment scale transient flow model. Results are demonstrated by comparing manually calibrated approaches with the automated approach. An advanced Tikhonov regularization algorithm was employed for carrying out the automated pilot point (PP) method. The results indicate that automated PP is more flexible and robust as compared to other approaches. Different statistical indicators show that this method yields reliable calibration as values of coefficient of determination (R2) range from 0.98 to 0.99, Nash Sutcliffe efficiency (ME) range from 0.964 to 0.976, and root mean square errors (RMSE) range from 1.68 m to 1.23 m, for manual and automated approaches, respectively. Validation results of automated PP show ME as 0.969 and RMSE as 1.31 m. The results of output sensitivity suggest that hydraulic conductivity is a more influential parameter. Considering the limitations of the current study, it is recommended to perform global sensitivity and linear uncertainty analysis for the better estimation of the modelling results.
Muhammad Usman; Thomas Reimann; Rudolf Liedl; Azhar Abbas; Christopher Conrad; Shoaib Saleem. Inverse Parametrization of a Regional Groundwater Flow Model with the Aid of Modelling and GIS: Test and Application of Different Approaches. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 2018, 7, 22 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Usman, Thomas Reimann, Rudolf Liedl, Azhar Abbas, Christopher Conrad, Shoaib Saleem. Inverse Parametrization of a Regional Groundwater Flow Model with the Aid of Modelling and GIS: Test and Application of Different Approaches. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. 2018; 7 (1):22.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Usman; Thomas Reimann; Rudolf Liedl; Azhar Abbas; Christopher Conrad; Shoaib Saleem. 2018. "Inverse Parametrization of a Regional Groundwater Flow Model with the Aid of Modelling and GIS: Test and Application of Different Approaches." ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 7, no. 1: 22.
Heat waves threaten human health given the fast changing climatic scenarios in the recent past. Adaptation to heat waves would take place when people perceive their impacts based on their knowledge. The present study examines perception level and its determinants resulting in adaptation to heat waves in Pakistan. The study used cross-sectional data from urban and peri-urban respondents of Faisalabad District. The study employs a health belief model to assess risk perception among the respondents. Logistic model is used to determine factors affecting level of knowledge, perception and adaptation to heat waves. Around 30% of peri-urban respondents have a low level of knowledge about the fatal impacts of heat waves. Risk perception of heat waves is very low among urban (57%) and peri-urban (66%) respondents. Households’ knowledge on heat waves is significantly related to age, gender, education, wealth and access to health services. Determinants of perception include knowledge of heat waves, age and joint effect of marital status and knowledge while income level, family size, urban/peri-urban background, perceived barriers, perceived benefits and cues to action significantly affect adaptation to heat waves. To reduce deadly health impacts, mass awareness campaigns are needed to build perception and improve adaptation to heat waves.
Sara Rauf; Khuda Bakhsh; Azhar Abbas; Sarfraz Hassan; Asghar Ali; Harald Kächele. How hard they hit? Perception, adaptation and public health implications of heat waves in urban and peri-urban Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2017, 24, 10630 -10639.
AMA StyleSara Rauf, Khuda Bakhsh, Azhar Abbas, Sarfraz Hassan, Asghar Ali, Harald Kächele. How hard they hit? Perception, adaptation and public health implications of heat waves in urban and peri-urban Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2017; 24 (11):10630-10639.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Rauf; Khuda Bakhsh; Azhar Abbas; Sarfraz Hassan; Asghar Ali; Harald Kächele. 2017. "How hard they hit? Perception, adaptation and public health implications of heat waves in urban and peri-urban Pakistan." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24, no. 11: 10630-10639.
The theme of agriculture as system though it is commonly understood is an innovative area of research and erudition. It involves both a technical meaning of system and cybernetic as these arise in respect of their epistemological meaning of unity of knowledge in highly complementary orders; as well as some of the wellbeing implications are studied in methodological way within the substantive context of system and cybernetic. The result then is a scientific, technical, and social development of the theme of agriculture as system for the common human good. Within this meaningful connotation, the economics of agriculture is invoked. This area is further extended to the broader field of ecology, resource, and environment inter-causal linkages within and between them. The treatment of agriculture as system and cybernetic study then leads into methodological and mathematical formalism that can be formulated as a model of evaluation of wellbeing subject to simulacra of multidimensional variable interrelationship. With data searched by the researchers in further studies in this area of agriculture system, the wellbeing simulation subject to circular causation between the multidimensional variables can be empirically evaluated using sophisticated statistical programs. Resulting policy and inter-system results can be analyzed to derive socioeconomic inferences. A plethora of further technical studies with the methodological features of system and cybernetic study can be derived.
Masudul A. Choudhury; Azhar Abbas. Agriculture as Social Wellbeing System in Food Security: An Epistemological Study. Theoretical Economics Letters 2017, 07, 429 -447.
AMA StyleMasudul A. Choudhury, Azhar Abbas. Agriculture as Social Wellbeing System in Food Security: An Epistemological Study. Theoretical Economics Letters. 2017; 07 (03):429-447.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMasudul A. Choudhury; Azhar Abbas. 2017. "Agriculture as Social Wellbeing System in Food Security: An Epistemological Study." Theoretical Economics Letters 07, no. 03: 429-447.
Muhammad Usman; Azhar Abbas; Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib. CONJUNCTIVE USE OF WATER AND ITS MANAGEMENT FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY OF MAJOR CROPS ACROSS TERTIARY CANAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM OF INDUS BASIN IN PAKISTAN. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2016, 53, 257 -264.
AMA StyleMuhammad Usman, Azhar Abbas, Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib. CONJUNCTIVE USE OF WATER AND ITS MANAGEMENT FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY OF MAJOR CROPS ACROSS TERTIARY CANAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM OF INDUS BASIN IN PAKISTAN. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2016; 53 (1):257-264.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Usman; Azhar Abbas; Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib. 2016. "CONJUNCTIVE USE OF WATER AND ITS MANAGEMENT FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY OF MAJOR CROPS ACROSS TERTIARY CANAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM OF INDUS BASIN IN PAKISTAN." Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 53, no. 1: 257-264.
The predicted increase in frequency and severity of flooding events poses substantial challenges for the farming communities of developing countries. Given the financial limitations of governments in these countries, the concept of participatory flood management is of high relevance. This article studies how communities can participate in structural measures such as embankments/dikes. Given that surplus rural labor is available due to the seasonal nature of agricultural operations, this paper utilizes a field survey for exploring the willingness to contribute (WTC) labor by rural households in Pakistan towards a hypothetical flood-protection scheme. Results show a potential labor contribution of 11.07 man-days per year per household (equivalent to Rs. 4,084 or 39 USD). The WTC decision is positively influenced by the number of adult family members, livestock damage, compensation received and expected effectiveness of the intervention, but is negatively influenced by age and education of the household head, farm income and the distance of the farm from the river. The study concludes that community resources (e.g., manual labor) can be utilized for flood mitigation, which may reduce the costs of building and maintaining the infrastructure while increasing the sense of security and ownership. This would also ensure the sustainability of flood protection interventions to a considerable extent.
Azhar Abbas; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. Participatory adaptation to climate extremes: an assessment of households’ willingness to contribute labor for flood risk mitigation in Pakistan. Journal of Water and Climate Change 2016, 7, 621 -636.
AMA StyleAzhar Abbas, T. S. Amjath-Babu, Harald Kächele, Klaus Mueller. Participatory adaptation to climate extremes: an assessment of households’ willingness to contribute labor for flood risk mitigation in Pakistan. Journal of Water and Climate Change. 2016; 7 (3):621-636.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAzhar Abbas; T. S. Amjath-Babu; Harald Kächele; Klaus Mueller. 2016. "Participatory adaptation to climate extremes: an assessment of households’ willingness to contribute labor for flood risk mitigation in Pakistan." Journal of Water and Climate Change 7, no. 3: 621-636.