Farm households' perception and adaptation to climate change in relation of food crop productivity in Pakistan

Challenges to crop sector arising from changing temperature and rainfall cause losses to food crop productivity in particular and agriculture sector in general. The present study aims to see the farm households' perception and adaptation to climate change and to determine the effects of adaptation on food crop productivity in Pakistan using cross-sectional data collected from Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Probit model is used to evaluate farmer's understanding of climate change and its associated institutional, socio-economic and demographic variables. Results show that the majority of farmers have experienced the changes in rainfall (76%) and temperature (79%). Socio-economic and demographic variables such as education above primary schooling years, number of earners, medium farm size, NGOs, and access to information sources, namely radio and neighboring farmers, are significantly related with perception of climate change. Propensity score matching method (PSM) is employed for examining the factors influencing adaptation to climate change and the effects of adaptation on food crop productivity. Results of PSM indicate that male household heads, family size, matriculation education, households having access to credit, information source, land quality, perception of rainfall and rented land are significantly related with adaptation to climate change. Productivity gains for adapters are 0.04% and the productivity gains for non-adapters are 3.8% if they adapted. The study suggests the need to invest in farmer's education, improve information sources and skills of existing extension staffs on climate change and adaptation measures. The study posits to increase access to viable credit programs, enabling farmers to invest in adaptation strategies to cope with climate change.