Exploring Gender Dynamics in On-Farm Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Food Security among Smallholder Farmers in South Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The study aims to explore the determinants of on-farm climate change adaptation strategies along with food security in the South Punjab Province of Pakistan. On-farm climate change adaptation strategies are the actions that farmers apply to mitigate the influence of climate change on their specific farms. The study stands out by comprehensively addressing five sub-strategies of on-farm adaptation strategies. The previous studies employed qualitative techniques or frequency analysis, but this study applied regression analysis.  Notably, there is a dearth of research on the intersection of gender, climate change adaptation, and food security in South Punjab. The study collected data from 1152 small landholders in four divisions (Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan) of South Punjab with a sample size of 384 small landholders from each division by using the Krejcie & Morgan (1970) sample size determination formula. The study employed a binary logistic technique to estimate the results.  The findings suggest that male farmers exhibit greater confidence in adopting on-farm climate change adaptation measures compared to their female counterparts. Planned adaptation strategies demonstrate a positive influence on autonomous climate change adaptation measures. Additionally, the study identifies various constraints or barriers, such as limited access to services, shortage of non-land assets, and farmers’ constrained income, as primary obstacles in the adoption of on-farm strategies. The study further reveals that food security negatively influences the adoption of on-farm strategies.