Saleem Ashraf

From 2011-12 to 2020-21, an experiment was conducted at the Adaptive Research Farm Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan to test the adaptability of indigenous wheat cultivars in the rice-wheat cropping system of Pakistan. The selection of cultivars was based on their popularity among farmers and their ability to produce high yield. Each year, the experiment was set up using a Randomized Complete Block Design, with wheat cultivars as treatments randomized in plots measuring 3.15 m × 9.6 m. All experimental units were treated the same way in terms of agronomic practices, plant protection, harvesting, and post-harvesting techniques. Data was collected pertaining to number of tillers (m-2), 1000-grain weight (g) and final grain yield (t ha-1) for each cultivar, as well as the mean monthly minimum and maximum temperatures for each crop season recorded. The data was then analyzed statistically. It was found that temperature had a negative impact on the number of tillers, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield of wheat over the long term. Furthermore, the performance of wheat cultivars varied based on changes in temperature throughout the entire study period.

We explored the contribution and effectiveness of state and non-state institutions in rural development efforts in highlands (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KPK] province) of Pakistan. This study employed mixed-methods research design and data were collected from 300 household heads, randomly selected from six villages from two purposively selected districts Mansehra and Nowshehra. Findings showed people in KPK were deprived of due to conflicts, conspiracies and terrorism, poor governance, small landholdings and subsistence farming followed by sluggish marketing system, insufficient education and training for people, and inadequate employment opportunities. Regarding contribution, non-state institutions had more contribution as compared to state institutions. T-test analysis showed that the non-state institutions had an effective provision of agricultural extension and forestry advisory services, education, health services in remote areas, skill development, and provision of microcredit schemes. The results of F-test statistics showed highly significant difference among the perceived effectiveness of rural development activities of different types of non-state actors (localite, cosmopolite, and religious/faith-based) working in the research area. This study recommends state-owned rural development departments revisit their working mechanism and develop synergistic working relationship with the non-state institutions in discharging rural development efforts.

| This study explored some notable factors contributing to the employability in agriculture department, Government of the Punjab as perceived by the Diploma in Agricultural Sciences (DAS) holders. who were recruited in agriculture department during 2017. This study was quantitative and data were collected through questionnaire from 300 respondents who were recently appointed as Field Assistants (FAs) in Agriculture Department. Total 237 questioners returned by the respondents were found complete, thus, sample size was reduced to 237. Effective Schools Model presented by Lezotte (2010)” was employed as theoretical framework of this study. Collected data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results unveiled that average age of respondents was 25.03 years. Maximum respondents (31.96%) had received DAS from IATI, Sargodha while least contribution came from University of Agriculture Faisalabad (2.86%). Family background of 77.45% respondents was rural and farming was key source of income for more than half of respondents (56.14%). Satisfaction with classroom facilities (Mean=2.47±0.67), higher grades in examination (Mean=2.39±0.77) and relevance of the coursework (Mean=2.38±0.75) learned at training institutes helped respondents to get through the recruitment process. Regression analysis affirmed that extra-curricular activities (P<0.05), being a sportsman, (P<0.01), higher grades in examination (P<0.05), educational environment at IATI Sargodha (P<0.01) and Rahim Yar Khan (P<0.05) were the prominent determinants of their employability. Study concludes that educational activities and co-curricular activities were equally important for the successful academic performance and earning an employability. Study stresses to streamline extracurricular activities at institutes level and conductance of inter and intra institutes competitions to bring positive change in behavior of students to pave the way towards success.

We examined the vulnerability of farmers to climate change in this study. This study was quantitative followed by cross-sectional research design. The study was confined to two districts of the southern Punjab: Muzaffargarh and Khanewal. A total of Two hundred and forty (240) farmers were interviewed face to face. Data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results were categorized into three section. First section consists of socio-economic profile of respondents. The descriptive analysis was adopted in order to quantify the age, education, land size, income and income sources of the respondents. Second section entailed perception of respondents about the climate change, farmers vulnerability level, factors behind the vulnerability and coping strategies as adopted by the farmers. The mean values and standard deviation were calculated to meet the need of second objective. The third section was the Factor Analysis of the factors through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The objective was to extract those factors likely to contribute more to vulnerability of farmers to climate change. The values of Kaser-Meyer-Olkin and Barlett’s test of sphericity were greater than 0.60, thus running factors analysis was implicit. Four factors (i) low crop yield (ii) small/subsistence farming (iii) large dependent in agriculture and (iv) marketing problem was extracted indicating total variance of 59.67%. The normality test for the newly extracted factors had the probability value of less than 0.005. At the end, the study had brief recommendations for the research, extension and the farmers in order to improve the adaptive capacities of the farmers and persuade climate smart agriculture. Keywords: Adaptation, Coping strategies, Climate change, Small farmers,

This book covers the concept and history of agricultural extension, history of agricultural extension programs in Pakistan, theories and models of agricultural... This book covers the concept and history of agricultural extension, history of agricultural extension programs in Pakistan, and basic research skills.

Factors influencing use of information and communication technologies among farmers in rural Punjab, Pakistan

| Smallholder or resource-poor farmers in a tropical country, such as Pakistan, are often the cause of environmental degradation and at the same are impacted by it. More than 80% of the farmers in Pakistan are resource-poor or practice subsistence farming which degrades the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for climate smart extension education for these farmers. The main purpose for this study was to examine environmental degradation /climate change associated problems faced/ perceived by resource-poor farmers and ways adopted to mitigate them. The specific objectives of study were to determine farm damages of resource-poor farmers under environmental degradation; explore mitigation strategies available for resource-poor farmers; and examine the implications for extension educations in Pakistan. The survey of 120 farmers was conducted in the Punjab Province of Pakistan, covering 36 districts and across three of the ten agro ecological zones of the country. Rice, cotton and mix-cropping are practiced in these zones. The findings show that maintaining soil fertility and controlling livestock diseases were the main challenges resource-poor farmers face while water conservation and climate smart agricultural practices were proposed as the main mitigation strategies. Educating resource poor farmers on the causes and consequences of environmental degradation is relatively new in Pakistan. With these farmers constituting the vast majority of the agricultural population there is an urgent need for extension to come to their aid. Climate smart agricultural practices should be integrated in extension training and practice in Pakistan.

| Major objective of this study was an overtime analysis of secondary data to calculate compound growth and forecast area, production and average yield in the Punjab Pakistan. Average yield of Cotton in the Punjab Pakistan. For this purpose, data collected from government reports for the period of 1990-2017 was criticaly examined. Empirical results indicated that area under cultivation showed negative compound growth rate while production and average yield showed positive compound growth in Pakistan. While, in Punjab, compound growth rate of area under cotton cultivation and production showed negative while average yield showed positive growth. Forecasting of cotton showed that in Pakistan, area, production and average yield will be on rise by 2025. In the Punjab, area of cotton cultivation will increase by 2025 but production and average yield of cotton will show consistent decline. As the Punjab is leading contributor in terms of cotton production, this decline will impact economy and livelihoods significantly. Therefore, study urge the need of cotton policy and holistic actions by government to subsidize inputs availability and conserve water and land.

In this chapter, an attempt is made to review the behavior of flood in Asian region and mechanism of flood risk management adopted among Asian nations. Flood is the most frequent natural disaster at present and vulnerability is widespread across the globe. Though, Asian region is on a knife-edge. Distribution of natural disasters in Asia followed by economic damage and human killing is illustrated in this chapter. In addition, discourse of China, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka on flood risk management is examined. Flood risk management policies framed by these nations over the period of time are synthesized. Research and investment on forecasting, planning, preparedness, assessment, evaluation, and mitigation of flood risk are explained. This synthesis can present a pathway for better response and flood management for debated Asian countries through filling the identified policy gaps. This chapter also urges a need of holistic and inter-countries research and cross country analysis followed by increased funding for sustainable management of risk.

Citrus is the leading fruit of Pakistan and famous worldwide especially kinnow cultivar because of its pleasant taste and remarkable quality. The yield of citrus per hectare in Pakistan is almost half of potential due to non-adoption of recommended horticultural practices by citrus growers. Adopting a decision regarding the improvement of practices is usually influenced by various factors including farmers' socio-economic attributes. In order to determine the relationship between socio-economic aspects and the awareness and adoption of recommended citrus production practices the present study was carried out in Sargodha district from central Punjab, Pakistan. The Study was based upon cross sectional survey research design due to availability of sampling frame, probability (random sampling) was applied for sample selection. Through random sampling, 120 citrus growers were selected as sample. Structured questionnaire administered through interview was used as a research instrument. Analysis of the data collected from the targeted citrus growers revealed a highly significant influence of education on awareness and adoption. Moreover, significant association was found between citrus cultivation area and awareness and adoption of improved practices. Age also showed significant association with awareness and adoption. Moreover, dominancy of middle aged farmers and illiteracyin the study area strongly point the need of provision of formal and non-formal education and training program for farmers. Young generation needs to be focused and reorientation of youth clubs may help in better way to gain the utmost outcome.