Building Extension Agents' Capacity for Sustainable Development to Promote Climate Resilience in Pakistani Agriculture: A case study of South Punjab

Abstract

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ending hunger and poverty requires Pakistan's agriculture industry to adapt to climate change. Agricultural productivity is greatly impacted by climate change due to unpredictable weather patterns, high temperatures, and altered rainfall cycles. Food security is impacted, and poverty is made worse, especially for smallholder farmers who are less equipped to adjust. To lessen these effects and increase farmers' climate change resilience, agricultural extension agents' skills and abilities must be strengthened.When it comes to sharing information, expertise, and technologies that support farmers in implementing climate-smart farming practices, agricultural extension services are essential. However, extension agents' proficiency, education, and capacity to convey creative solutions determine how effective they are. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the socioeconomic characteristics, climate change awareness, responsibilities, and skill gaps of extension agents in Punjab, Pakistan, in order to determine their training needs. Ninety extension workers from three districts—Bahawalpur, Lodhran, and Rahim Yar Khan—were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and mean scoring techniques were used to analyze the data.The results indicate that extension agents need specialized training in current agricultural practices, policy implementation, and climate resilience methods. By filling in these gaps through ongoing professional development, extension services will be better equipped to assist farmers with climate adaptation. In Pakistan's agrarian economy, bolstering agricultural extension initiatives can result in increased productivity, better climate adaptability, and general economic growth. This study emphasizes the necessity of taking a methodical approach to giving extension agents the tools they need to successfully address the difficulties posed by climate change.