Vulnerability of Women in Disasters: A Case Study of District Badin

The climate change is universal phenomenon, its severe impact can be clearly observed in poor countries having mainly dependence on natural resources and having limited coping strategies for extreme climate change. Given the role of women in society, they tend to face more damages in terms of reduction in their income level, saving pattern and the level of education in disaster prone areas. This article examines the impact of disaster on women. The data for study is collected through questionnaire from district Badin of Sindh province. The findings of study revealed that income level of household is affected after disaster, and households who were low at saving pattern are affected more than households with high savings. To combat the impact of disaster on women the government should initiate awareness drive to respond the disaster related vulnerabilities.

Impact of Vegetable Production Through Hydroponics Technology on Agricultural Development and Trade in Pakistan a Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

Pakistan is endowed with enormous agricultural resources for production of vegetables. The productivity of vegetable is stagnant from decades in the country. Improving productivity leads to food security. Vegetables constitute major element of human diet globally. Among vegetables tomato is important for its use in human diet. Average yield of tomato was 9.17 ton/ha in 1985, which slightly increased to 9.6 ton/ha in 2016 as against world average of 24.22 to 34.53 ton/ha. during the same period. Gap between demand and supply of tomato is increasing forcing Pakistan to import tomato since 2003. The present study was designed to address the issue of productivity stagnation through hydroponics technology and harvesting the fruit of globalization through exporting vegetables to the food deficit regions. The study constitutes primary and secondary data and Global trade analysis project (GTAP) database. Primary data was collected from hydroponics firm for fifty seven months on productivity, cost, revenue and trade parameters. Secondary data of agriculture input and output was collected from secondary sources. For CGE modeling GTAP database version 9 was used as a tool to analyze impact of changes in productivity on macroeconomic factors. GTAP version 9 included 140 regions 57 commodities and 8 factors of production. These factors are aggregated to analyze global effects of productivity improvement through hydroponics technology in Pakistan. Three scenarios I, II and III were built with productivity shock of 25 percent, 50 percent and 50 percent coupled with tariff free regime with importing country and relaxing tariff on importing hydroponics inputs. Results indicated that production of tomato is rising by 5.41 percent per annum and demands by 6.27 percent per annum from last many decades in Pakistan. The gap in demand and supply of tomato was fulfilled by importing tomato which is growing by 17 percent per annum since 2003, ultimately posing substantial burden on foreign reserves of the country. Average productivity of tomato in hydroponics was found to be 162±6.6 ton per hectare from 2009 to 2013 in Pakistan. The technology has been characterized for input use, output and trade potential in Pakistan. Cost benefit analysis of commercial hydroponics at two hectares was found to be positive. Return from hydroponics increased significantly by use of family labour. Small value of domestic resource cost indicate the comparative vi advantage of Pakistan in the production of hydroponics. Breakeven volume of hydroponics firm was found to be 150 ton. Labour cost and supply chain management cost of hydroponics was found to be significantly affecting total value product of hydroponics. Results of secondary data analysis using ARDL model revealed that seed, water, credit, tractor and fertilizer have both long run and short run relationship with area under vegetables in Pakistan. Global trade analysis indicated that simulation II and III has significantly contributed in improving macroeconomic indicators like real GDP, real export, real import, real investment, terms of trade, rental rate of return in Pakistan. Local prices of fruits and vegetables were decreased due to these simulations explaining consumer welfare in the country. On the basis of this, global horticultural productivity improvement model is proposed for Pakistan which would help the developing countries to solve the problem of productivity stagnation in the country and earning foreign exchange through export promotion (ultimate target of Strategic Trade Policy Framework of the Government of Pakistan).