Farmers’ Perceptions of Agricultural Land Values in Rural Pakistan

Pakistan’s agriculture sector is crucial because it is responsible for providing food, shelter, and clothing to a massive population of 180 million people which is growing at a rate of 2 percent per annum. Land is a valuable asset and a symbol of prestige for the rural population in Pakistan. According to the recent Pakistan Economic Survey of 2013- 14, the agriculture sector contributes around 21 percent to GDP and provides employment for around 45 percent of the work force, who are primarily based in rural areas. The total geographic area of Pakistan is approximately 79.6 million hectares. Around 27.7 percent of Pakistan’s land is currently under cultivation and the cultivatable waste lands offer good possibilities for crop production. The total cropped area of Pakistan increased from 21.82 million hectares in 1990-91 to 22.72 million hectares in 2010-11 [Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan (2010-11)] and the total population of Pakistan increased from 118 million to 175 million during the same time period. Similarly the tenancy status of land management and land ownership pattern has changed over time. For example, large landowners are shifting their preferences from managing their land on their own towards leasing or sharecropping the land to be managed by others [Agricultural Census (2010)]

Inclusive Agricultural Growth in Pakistan— Understanding Some Basic Constraints

Inclusive agricultural growth is important for overall economic growth and particularly critical for rural socio-economic stability and poverty reduction in Pakistan. The majority of Pakistan‘s population and 44 percent of the overall labour force are dependent upon agriculture which only accounts for a little over 20 percent of national GDP. The paper highlights some basic constraints that have not been explicitly addressed in the policy research and implementation and have impeded inclusive agriculture growth. A descriptive analysis based on data from the Agriculture Census of Pakistan and the Pakistan Household Income and Economic Survey—both of which were conducted in 2010-11—is used to show how high levels of poverty and its disparity across regions, combined with the declining size of operated holdings and associated fragmentation especially in the smallest size categories which now form over 60 percent of the agricultural holdings in Pakistan, are fundamental constraints. Poverty is both the result as well as the consequence of fragmented markets, weak institutions including governance; and, inadequate policy research and implementation. A better research based policy understanding of some basic constraints, and the variations across regions in such factors such as the declining size and fragmentation of operated farms, rural poverty; and, the levels of market development and institutions is essential along with effective implementation. One size fits all policies have not and will not work. JEL Classification: O40, Q15, I32, P46 Keywords: Inclusive Growth, Land Holding, Land Tenure, Income Distribution, Povert

Factors Influencing Choice of Energy Sources in Rural Pakistan

Modernisation of the agricultural and industrial sectors in Pakistan over the last thirty years, increased village electrification, increasing use of energy appliances by domestic users, and the usage of modern technology in all sectors, caused energy demand to increase more rapidly than energy supply. Sources of energy vary between urban and rural populations, across income groups, and by type of households. Pakistanis consume energy from both modern and traditional sources for different purposes, such as lighting, cooking, heating, and transportation. Modern sources of energy include electricity, oil, gas and coal, while traditional sources consist of animal/plant residue (firewood, crop residue and animal waste). Using a multinomial logit regression model, this study analyses how rural households make choices among different energy alternatives. The results suggest that because of the limited access to modern energy sources, households rely on traditional sources excessively, which may have a negative impact not only on human and animal health but also on the environment. These results suggest that the conversion of traditional energy sources into modern ones, such as, biogas, use of energy efficient appliances, etc. can have a positive impact on the environment and sustainable economic growth. JEL Classification: R20, D11, Q43, Q42, Q5 Keywords: Rural, Households, Energy Consumption, Energy Sources, Environmen

Summary Brief: Heifer study on climate-smart agriculture adoption rates amongst goat farming households in three districts of Nepal and the impact on key environmental and economic indicators

This info brief provides an executive overview of the research methods and key finding of a series of information briefs. The briefs were developed to assess the role of Heifer Nepal programming in supporting the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices amongst Heifer supported goat cooperatives, and their impact on a range of environmental and economic indicators. The recommendations of the analysis are intended to further strengthen the integration of climate change considerations into Heifer Nepal’s programming, with the goal of raising overall household incomes amongst supported households through means that have minimal negative impact on the environment. The research was conducted in three districts encompassing the main agro-ecological contexts in which Heifer Nepal works

BRIEF 1 – Assessing the impact of Heifer Nepal programming on the use of climate-smart agriculture practices in smallholder goat farming systems

This brief provides insight into the different farming systems of the three study regions and their application of CSA practices, comparing uptake between Heifer supported cooperatives and non-Heifer supported cooperatives, using evidence from a Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIS)

The adoption of laser land leveler technology and its impact on groundwater use by irrigated farmland in Punjab, Pakistan

This paper investigates the factors that influence the adoption of laser land levelers and their impact on groundwater usage in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A farm household survey of 504 agriculture producers was conducted in 2019. A discrete-time duration model is used to investigate factors influencing the speed of adoption and an endogenous switching regression (ESR) model is used to evaluate its impact on groundwater usage. About 70% of the surveyed households adopted the technology, and the average time to adoption was 9 years. Key factors accelerating the speed of adoption include strong legal land rights, access to information about the technology, and exposure to the technology. In contrast, long distance to rental market deaccelerates the speed of adoption. The adoption of laser land leveler reduced groundwater use by about 23%. The results imply that institutional arrangements, such as improving access to extension services, exposure to innovation, and legal land rights, can enhance the adoption and diffusion of the technology and conserve groundwater

The adoption of laser land leveler technology and its impact on groundwater use in irrigated farmland in Punjab, Pakistan

PRIFPRI3; ISIDSG