TY - JOUR AU - Rehman, Tehmoor AU - Panezai, Sanaullah AU - Ainuddin, Syed PY - 2019/12/31 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Drought perceptions and coping strategies of drought-prone rural households: a case study of Nushki District, Balochistan JF - Journal of Geography and Social Sciences (JGSS) JA - Journal of Geography and Social Sciences (JGSS) VL - 1 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - UR - http://jgssjournal.uob.edu.pk/journal/index.php/jgss/article/view/5 SP - 44-56 AB - <p>ABSTRACT<br>Background: Drought affects every sector of life and repetitive droughts in <br>Balochistan have severally affected livelihoods of people particularly of rural <br>households.<br>Objectives: The objectives of this study were to explore the perceptions of <br>drought and households’ coping strategies in rural areas Nushki District of <br>Balochistan province. <br>Methods: For this cross-sectional study, the primary data were collected through <br>a semi-structured questionnaire from 198 respondents at four union councils of <br>Nushki District. Respondents were selected through simple random sampling. <br>Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data analysis, whereas for <br>analyzing qualitative data, content analysis technique was used. <br>Results: The findings of this study show that lack of rainfall and drying of karezes <br>and water sources were important perceptions of respondents for the incidence of <br>drought. No or less rainfall was perceived to be the arrival of drought in the study <br>area. Furthermore, selling of household assets, low food consumption, seeking <br>alternate sources of income, out migration from the drought prone area were the <br>prominent drought coping strategies of households at local level. Contrary to the <br>literature, diversification in cropping pattern and planting practices were not <br>adopted as coping strategies by rural households at Nushki District.<br>Conclusions: Nushki District is one of the most affected and drought prone area <br>where occurrence of drought is regular. Mismanagement of water, migration from <br>the rain-fed areas and lack of skills were serious issues. Therefore, government <br>organizations and NGOs should conduct skill development programs for the rural<br>households and farmers should be encouraged to grow drought resistant crops.</p> ER -