Manuscript Title:

FACTORS INFLUENCING APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA) PRODUCTIVITY IN DISTRICT MASTUNG, BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

Author:

BASHIR AHMED, GHULAM MURTAZA, MUHAMMAD ASHRAF, SYED AINUDDIN, JAMAL-UD-DIN, ABDUL RAHIM

DOI Number:

DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/2ZCJG

Published : 2022-07-23

About the author(s)

1. BASHIR AHMED - Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Disaster Management and Development Studies, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
2. GHULAM MURTAZA - Department of Disaster Management and Development Studies, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
3. MUHAMMAD ASHRAF - Department of Disaster Management and Development Studies, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
4. SYED AINUDDIN - Department of Disaster Management and Development Studies, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
5. JAMAL-UD-DIN - Department of Disaster Management and Development Studies, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
6. ABDUL RAHIM - Department of Disaster Management and Development Studies, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.

Full Text : PDF

Abstract

Agriculture is a prime source of livelihood for more than 2.5 billion population, in particular, residents of rural areas in developing countries. Agriculture is a mainstay of economy and immensely contributes to GDP of many developing countries. Apple (Malus Domestica) alone is responsible for world’s 50 per cent of deciduous cash crop tree production. Balochistan is the leading apple producing province of Pakistan contributing about 576,400 tones (88.78 per cent) of apple in 2019-20. This paper identifies contributing factors to apple productivity in district Mastung, Balochistan. Multiple-Regression-Model (MRM) and Correlation coefficient were used to check predictability in the outcome variable and independent variables. The MRMindicated58 per cent variation in the model was explained by all the predictors for the outcome variable (Apple Yield).The study affirmed that agriculture productivity is not only influenced by physical capital, but also by human capital. Findings revealed that farming experience, family labor, tree density, access to credit, extension services and trainings, and irrigation constraints significantly affect apple productivity. With a continuous growing population and depleting water resources in the province, the process of integrated water resource management is highly recommended, thereby increasing the economic and social welfare development without upsetting the ecosystem. The approach is also essential to mitigate the impact of seasonal and cyclical droughts.


Keywords

Apple, yield, productivity, irrigation constraints, Balochistan.