Climate Change Impact on Sustainable Agricultural Growth: Insights from Rural Areas

Abstract

Agricultural production and advancement is significantly affected by climate change (CC), especially in drought-prone regions where farmers depend primarily on rainfall for their livelihoods. One of the main threats to the agricultural sector for decades has been global warming, and the sector is particularly susceptible to climatic circumstances. CC has become a crucial concern impeding sustainable development due to rapid changes in urbanization, industry, and agricultural systems. Food security, which is a worldwide concern, is another essential component connected to a country’s economy and people’s livelihoods. In view of these adverse consequences, the main objective of this study was to examine the impact of CC and food security on sustainable agricultural development in Pakistan. The study area was selected from twenty-four districts in two provinces of Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan). Collectively, the current research offers possible solutions to the dilemmas described above, which could have a significant impact on improving efficiency and technological progress. To address these issues, we introduced a slack-based approach to quantify inefficiencies in overall agricultural production. In addition, this study further scrutinized the decomposition of specific variables. The results show that Pakistan has an agricultural inefficiency of 0.62 under CC and food security constraints, of which 0.29 is primarily attributable to food security limitations. In the end, this study will help policymakers to make appropriate decisions to minimize the impact of CC on sustainable agriculture growth and improve human living standards and food security.