ASSESSING VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTIVE CAPACITY: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN BANNU DISTRICT, PAKISTAN

This study explores the adaptation strategies to climate change adopted by smallholder farmers in District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. For this purpose, primary data were randomly gathered from 73 sampled smallholder farmers through a structured questionnaires and interviews schedule method. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder famers and factors effecting adaptation strategies. The findings revealed that middle aged, literate farmers with more farming experience and medium landholdings size are most probably to adopt climate adaptation strategies such as organic fertilizers, drought resilient crops, change planting periods and diversification of crop. The results further indicated that increase temperatures, Decrease/erratic rainfall, Crop diseases and Water shortage as a major climate related challenge faced to smallholder farmers. Moreover, major hurdles faces in adaptation strategies were comprises lack of funds, inadequate knowledge, and weak institutional support. The regression model analysis also indicated that the coefficient and P-value for Climate risk was (β = 0.269, P = .006), for Age was (β= .148, P = .022), for education (β = .223, P = .029), and for farming experience (β= 0.321, P = .046), while for landholding size (β= 0.481, P = .029) had significantly influenced adaptation strategies. This study emphasize the need for targeted interventions to support adaptive capability and promote sustainable agriculture among smallholder farmers. It is recommended that government and NGOs should improve farmer training programs and ensure regular, accessible extension services focused on climate resilient agricultural practices and financial institutions and agricultural support organizations should design accessible credit schemes and inputs subsidies to facilitate widespread adoption of climate adaptation strategies.