Smallholder perceptions of climate change in high-altitude farming: the influence of household characteristics and local knowledge on adaptation strategies in Nagar District, Pakistan

Local knowledge on climate change is important for designing efficient and effective context-specific adaptation policies. However, there is lack of empirical evidence on the local manifestations of climate change in the high-altitude areas of Pakistan. To fill this gap, this study examines the local knowledge-based perceptions of smallholders on climate change, highlighting transformations of farming system. To achieve study objective, data were collected through 430 structured household surveys, 27 key informant interviews and 4 focus group discussions. Data were analyzed on Microsoft Excel and SPSS using univariate and bivariate techniques. Results of univariate analysis discovered that the majority of respondents have perceived substantial climatic changes such as reduction in snowfall, increase in temperature and unpredictable precipitation. To overcome these variations, smallholders have implemented transformative strategies like use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and a shift from traditional crop farming to horticultural production. Moreover, bivariate results show a significant positive relationship between education and climate change perception of respondents; signifying individuals with higher levels of education tend to have better perceptions. The study underlines the significance of developing context-specific adaptation policies and strategies by integrating local insights, thereby enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of smallholders in high mountain regions of Pakistan.