Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption of Drought Hazard Coping Strategies in the Context of Climate Change: Evidence from Drought Prone-Areas of Punjab-Pakistan

Abstract

Climate change severely affected agrarian economies while developing countries particularly those having a major dependency on agriculture were rigorously influenced. In a couple of decades, agriculture has undergone substantial yield and productivity losses owing to severe disasters and risks of drought hazards. The significant objective of this research is to examine the farmer’s socioeconomic determinants and preferences of farmers about climate change adaptation strategies. A multivariate probit model was used for empirical estimation of the independent variables and farmers' assessments to apply the adaptation strategies. Estimates of the study illustrated soil conservation, rainwater harvesting, ponds, spillway terraces, and changing dates of crop planting were particular approaches applied by farmers to cope with drought risks. Moreover, socioeconomic determinants played a considerable role in the adoption of these drought-based strategies. In the scenario of such empirical findings, farmers must be educated and provided more easy access to climate change information, usage of climate-based apps, print media, electronic media, and social media for developing strategies and mitigation measures to overcome the severe impacts of drought.