A Quantitative Analysis of Agro-Based Industry in Matiari District, Sindh, Pakistan: A Sociological Perspective

Pakistan is the agrarian country and its last economic data shows the growth in the agriculture production. More than 60 percent population is living in rural areas of the country and is engaged with agriculture activities. While the agro based industry is linked with agriculture sector and use agriculture raw material for production of final goods. The agro based industry provides income and employment generation opportunities. Therefore, the agro based industry is beneficial for the economic development of the area. For this study the 384 sample has been selected from the district Matiari and statistical Chi square test result highlights that the agro-based industry is beneficial for the development of the rural area.

Growth Response of Deodar Cedrus Deodara , Blue Pine Pinus Wallichiana and Chir Pine Pinus Roxburghii to Climate Change in Galies Forest Division - Abbottabad

The present study was conducted to assess climate change and its impacts on growth of Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana and Pinus roxburghii at Galies Forest Division-Abbottabad during 1962-2011. The climate parameters of temperature and precipitation were used to assess climate regimes and climate changes, both on annual and seasonal basis. Bioclimatic indices regimes and changes therein during 1962-201 were calculated. The ring-width, early wood and late wood formations, and wood cell diameter and thickness, were measured for time function analysis and impacts of climate change on these characteristics. The findings showed regimes of mean annual maximum temperature of 16.36±0.08 °C, mean annual minimum temperature 6.08±0.08 °C and mean annual temperature 11.21±0.07 °C, while of precipitation was 889.48±19.43 mm/annum. Climate Vegetation Productivity Index (CVPI) was ranging from 4,342 to 9,091. The mean CVPI was calculated at 6,816, which indicated productivity in the range of 163.91-184.77 cubic feet/acre. The mean ring-widths of C. deodara, P. wallichiana and P. roxburghii for the time period of 1962-2011 were 3.08±0.23 mm, 2.54±0.15 mm and 2.62±0.39 mm, with coefficients of variation of 32.88%, 26.55% and 67.20% respectively. The values of mean sensitivity of these species for the same period were 0.30±0.11, 0.38±0.11 and 0.29±0.10, with coefficients of variation of 16.56%, 19.50% and 17.53% respectively. The overall increase in temperature and fluctuations in precipitation affected tree growth, both in terms of ring-width and intra-ring wood characteristics. The temperature was found negatively correlated with mean ring-widths and early wood formation in all the three species, while the correlation with late wood formation and intra-ring wood characteristics were positive in some cases and negative in others.