Abstract/Description

The cherry, one of the most recognized fruit crops, has become a significant source of income for rural farmers in Pakistan. However, limited research has been conducted on the economic impact of cherry farming. Consequently, there is a growing demand for a deeper understanding of cherries' economic contribution to the domestic economy. This study used socio-economic data from 315 cherry-producing households in Lower Hunza, GilgitBaltistan, to examine the role of cherries in community income. Data was collected through direct face-to-face interviews and semi-structured questionnaires with cherry producers, emphasizing group family discussions and interactions with local cherry traders. The findings indicate that cherry farming contributes 12.7% to total household income, making it the fourth-largest source of livelihood for the Lower Hunza community. The highest income source is off-farm activities (54.3%), followed by agricultural production (18.8%) and livestock (14.03%). Regression analysis showed that the age, household size, and education level of family heads positively correlated with income from cherry production. In contrast, the impact on male and female cherry producers' income was negative. Additionally, the study found that income from agriculture, off-farm work, and livestock significantly influences cherry income. Farmers in the study area face challenges such as water scarcity, lack of knowledge about cherry production techniques, financial constraints, price fluctuations, and inadequate cold storage facilities. The study recommends that the government address these issues by focusing on the agricultural system, offering workshops, and implementing training programs for farmers to enhance agricultural productivity.

Keywords

Cherry, agriculture income, livelihoods, household income, lower-Hunza, income accounting model

Location

MAV 1 room, Adamjee building

Session Theme

Cities and Infrastructure

Session Type

Parallel Technical Session

Session Chair

Qazi Masood, Institute of Business Administration

Session Discussant

Demetrio Panarello, Link Campus University ; Zahid Asghar, Quaid-i-Azam University

Start Date

10-12-2024 3:15 PM

End Date

10-12-2024 5:15 PM

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Dec 10th, 3:15 PM Dec 10th, 5:15 PM

The Economic Contribution of Cherry to the Household Economy in Pakistan. A case study from Lower-Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

MAV 1 room, Adamjee building

The cherry, one of the most recognized fruit crops, has become a significant source of income for rural farmers in Pakistan. However, limited research has been conducted on the economic impact of cherry farming. Consequently, there is a growing demand for a deeper understanding of cherries' economic contribution to the domestic economy. This study used socio-economic data from 315 cherry-producing households in Lower Hunza, GilgitBaltistan, to examine the role of cherries in community income. Data was collected through direct face-to-face interviews and semi-structured questionnaires with cherry producers, emphasizing group family discussions and interactions with local cherry traders. The findings indicate that cherry farming contributes 12.7% to total household income, making it the fourth-largest source of livelihood for the Lower Hunza community. The highest income source is off-farm activities (54.3%), followed by agricultural production (18.8%) and livestock (14.03%). Regression analysis showed that the age, household size, and education level of family heads positively correlated with income from cherry production. In contrast, the impact on male and female cherry producers' income was negative. Additionally, the study found that income from agriculture, off-farm work, and livestock significantly influences cherry income. Farmers in the study area face challenges such as water scarcity, lack of knowledge about cherry production techniques, financial constraints, price fluctuations, and inadequate cold storage facilities. The study recommends that the government address these issues by focusing on the agricultural system, offering workshops, and implementing training programs for farmers to enhance agricultural productivity.