VIABLE-SEM Model for Sustainable Livelihood Capital & Climate Change Adaptation in Pakistan's Agriculture

Overview

This repository contains the codes for the VIABLE-SEM Model used in our research study focused on understanding the dynamics of sustainable livelihood capital and its role in climate change adaptation within Pakistan's agriculture sector.

VIABLE-SEM Schematic diagram

Title of the Study:
"Sustainable livelihood capital and climate change adaptation in Pakistan’s agriculture: Structural equation modeling analysis in the VIABLE framework"

Publication:
Heliyon (www.cell.com/heliyon). Online link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402308026X

Objectives

1. Assess the significance of sustainable livelihood capital in the adaptation process, especially in Crop, Farm, Irrigation, and Economic Management.
2. Understand the mediation role of investments and farming purposes.
3. Identify how climatic and non-climatic factors moderate adaptation.
4. Analyze stakeholders' actions, priorities, and goals in adapting to climate change using the VIABLE framework.

Methodology

• Data Collection: A structured questionnaire was utilized, and data were collected from 800 farmers from December 2021 to February 2022. The regions focused on were the irrigated agricultural areas in the Indus Plain of the Punjab and Sindh provinces, Pakistan.

• Analysis: We employed the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling approach to the VIABLE framework (VIABLE-SEM) for the analysis.

Key Findings

• Livelihood capital was identified as the prime determinant for farmers’ adaptation strategies.

• Out of several variables, the primary purpose of farming, available investment options, and natural and human constraints were found to be less pivotal.

• The study mapped 13 notable viability pathways representing investment priorities, farming purposes, and challenges in climate change adaptation.

• Non-climatic factors were seen to have a negative effect, while climatic factors had a positive role with the relationship between capital and adaptation.

Implications

The insights from this study are crucial for policymakers and researchers aiming to craft effective climate change adaptation strategies for Pakistan's agriculture sector.

---

For detailed methodology, findings, and discussions, please refer to our published paper on Heliyon.

Feel free to explore the repository for codes and more insights!