Climate Change and Agricultural Adaptation in Punjab, Pakistan
Climate adaptation in Punjab agriculture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66529/agripat.2026.2.2.39Keywords:
Climate change, agricultural adaptation, crop losses, Punjab, Pakistan, logit modelAbstract
Climate change poses a severe threat to agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in Pakistan, yet farm-level adaptation responses remain insufficiently understood. This study examines climate change impacts and determinants of adaptation strategies among 100 randomly selected farmers in Punjab, Pakistan, using binary logistic regression. Results indicate substantial climate-induced production losses: cotton (40.6%), maize (35.1%), rice (33.4%), sugarcane (25.2%), and wheat (22.9%). Education emerged as the most consistent positive determinant of adaptation across all three strategies, change in sowing dates (OR = 1.345, p < 0.05), drought-resistant seeds (OR = 1.303, p < 0.05), and water-efficient methods (OR = 1.363, p < 0.01). Farm size significantly influenced only water-efficient method adoption (OR = 1.102, p < 0.05). Climate awareness and perceived yield losses showed large positive associations with adaptation, though statistical significance varied. These findings underscore that education and direct climate experience drive adaptive behavior, while capital-intensive adaptations require greater resource endowments. Targeted investments in extension services, climate information systems, and financing mechanisms for small-scale farmers are essential to enhance agricultural resilience in climate-vulnerable regions.
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