Climate change threat to horticulture crops and performance of agricultural extension in Balochistan
Paper Details
Climate change threat to horticulture crops and performance of agricultural extension in Balochistan
Abstract
Environmental changes today are an inevitable reality for Pakistan and is starting to show its effect through extreme heat stress at basic vegetative stages and expanded water prerequisites of crops. The Aim of this study was to explore the effect of climate change on horticulture crops and the role of agricultural extension workers in Balochistan. A total of 384 farmers were selected through single stage sampling technique for the study, data were collected thorough well-structured interview schedule and analyzed by using Statistical Package for social sciences (SPSS), Paired sample t-test and one sample t-test was applied on the data. The results reveals that majority 82% of the farmers don’t know the agricultural extension worker of their area and 95% of the farmers reported that the agricultural extension worker never visited them while, 84% of the farmers reported that fellow farmers were the major source of agricultural information. Majority 93% of the farmers perceived that rainfall is decreased and 97% of the farmers’ perceived temperature is increased. Results further reveals that highly significant (P≤0.00) decrease was observed in the area and yield of all major horticulture crops over the last 10-15 years. Climate change has severe effects on declining crops yield, increasing cost of production, crop infestation with insects and diseases and frequent occurrences of droughts. It is suggested that training should be arranged on climate change and its adaptation for agricultural extension works which will enable them to perform in a batter way in the field.
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