Catastrophic Risks Management via Livelihood Diversification From Flood-prone Areas of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract Agricultural lower productivity regardless of significant agricultural policy measures is considered major issue in mostly developing countries like Pakistan. These policies first and foremost focused on-farm development whereas the rich aspect of off-farm diversification is mostly overlooked. In mitigating climate change unpleasant impacts and dipping hunger, small farmers’ livelihood diversification performs considerable role. This study aimed to investigate the diversification of livelihood to managing catastrophic risks in rural farmers of Punjab, Pakistan. This research work used the data of 398 flood prone households from two higher risk flood prone districts of Punjab and employed logistic regression model for empirical estimation of the study. In managing catastrophic risks, majority of respondents almost 57% put into practice off-farm diversification of livelihood strategies whereas 44.5% adopted on-farm livelihood diversification strategies. Empirical estimates of logistic model illustrated as demographic, socioeconomic, risk perception and institutional characteristics considerably affect the farmers’ preference of diversification of livelihood. Results also highlighted the accessibility of inadequate labour force, poor roads and market infrastructure, be short of credit access, inadequate institutional support, restricted training and skills, limited natural resources and climate uncertainties and risks are some significant constraints in adopting the livelihood diversification in the study area. This research work advocated the necessitate for forcefully adoption the policies of climate change such as getting better services access, focus training initiatives, improved infrastructure and increasing institutional assistance. State based adoption of accurate policy measures and suitable deliberation so as to promote livelihood diversification as a part of enhancing national jobs to get better numerous livelihoods and save lives, as small farmers’ livelihood possibly will improve.