Geoclimatic and Socioeconomic Influences on Water Use Efficiency in Cotton Crops Productivity: A Sustainable Business and Management Farming Perspective

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of geo–climate and socio–economic influences on water use efficiency in cotton crops. Consequently, the current water demand for cotton has substantially increased, posing significant threats and challenges to crop productivity. This study uses an annual time series data set for two provinces of Pakistan. For this purpose, an auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is used for data analysis. According to the study's findings, there is a significant relationship between environmental conditions and water consumption efficiency. Additionally, empirical findings show that the country's water–scarce regions are primarily virtual water–importing zones, whereas several provinces in the north and west are water–selling regions. Negative effects will be significantly more prominent in less fortunate, more sweltering, and lower–lying nations. This study is aimed at having a better understanding of the reasons for climate change, which further causes economic costs. Also, to know how, as human beings, we can overcome this problem soon. While some variables exhibit positive correlations, others reveal negative relationships, highlighting the need for sustainable resource management. This transition can lower agricultural emissions and enhance resilience against climate shocks, paving the way for a more sustainable future.