ROLE OF PRE-DISPOSING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN AGRICULTURAL LAND
CONVERSION IN DISTRICT MALAKAND KHYBERPUKHTUNKHWA PAKISTAN
Abstract
The present study deals with the role of pre-disposing environmental
factors in agricultural land conversion. A quantitative research design
with structured questionnaire was adopted to gather information from a
sample of 375 households through simple random sampling technique.
Further the data was analyzed in terms of descriptive and inferential
statistics through SPSS. At descriptive analysis simple frequencies and
percentages distributions was carried out, where at bivariate and
multivariate analysis Chi-square and Tau-c is a directional test was
adopted to found the association between the study variables. The
results disclosed that due to low agricultural productivity farmers
enforce to convert their land for other purpose (P = 0.000; T
c = 0.259), growth in population creates immense
pressure on land conversion (P = 0.000; T c = 0.091),
growth in population creates immense pressure on land conversion (P =
0.000; T c = 0.091), infertility of agricultural land
is responsible for low productivity (P = 0.000; T c =
0.140) with relation to agricultural land conversion. Additionally, at
multivariate analysis the association between free-disposing
environmental factors and agricultural land conversion while controlling
gender of the respondents was found highly significant (P = 0.000) and
positive (T c = 0.292). Lastly, the association
between free-disposing environmental factors with agricultural land
conversion while controlling gender of the respondent was found
significant (P = 0.000) and positive (T c = 0.292).
Implementation of agricultural land policies and laws in their true
spirit, empowerment and equipping agricultural staff, community
empowerment and involvement in agricultural land governance, government
interventions in land policies is needed to preserve agricultural lands,
a strong system of monitoring and apprehension and punishment of
illegitimate practices were some of the recommendations in light of the
study.