Effect of Climate Change on Agriculture in Nimruz Province and its Relationship with the Development of Rural Areas

Abstract

Climate change poses a critical challenge to Afghanistan’s agriculture by reducing water resources, increasing temperatures, and altering rainfall patterns, all of which threaten food security and rural development. Despite the vulnerability of Afghanistan’s agricultural sector, there is limited empirical research assessing how climate change explicitly affects agriculture in Nimruz Province and its implications for rural development, leaving a critical gap in localized evidence. This study investigates the impact of climate change on agriculture in Nimruz Province. The statistical population included employees of the Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural High School, the Faculty of Agriculture at Nimruz Institute of Higher Education, and local farmers (N=100), from which 80 participants were selected using Cochran’s formula and convenience sampling. Data were collected through a 35-item questionnaire validated by agricultural experts, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.8 confirming strong reliability. As an applied, descriptive-analytical, and survey-based study, data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistical methods. The results show that climate change has a considerable impact on agriculture in Nimruz Province, with the most potent effects observed in agricultural production and the weakest in cultivation methods. The study concludes that climate change has a significant impact on agriculture in the region, and it recommends implementing sustainable resource management, promoting modern agricultural technologies, and raising farmers’ awareness to mitigate adverse effects and enhance resilience