A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING SUGARCANE PRODUCTIVITY IN CENTRAL VALLEY OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Purpose of the study: This research study was designed to analyze various social factors like population dynamics, institutional, land tenure, and gender other than the technological one that affects the production of sugarcane in farming communities. Methodology: The method of the study was qualitative, where the data was collected through FGDs. Two FGDs were conducted in two districts of the central valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. Each FGD consisted of 10 participants. The data was analyzed through thematic analysis. Main Findings: The findings of the study revealed that sugarcane productivity is affected by sociological factors like technological ones. The poor socioeconomic status of the farmers, wasting resources in land disputes, frequent land division among heirs, a rapid increase of population growth, unplanned urbanization conversion of fertile agricultural land into the built environment, weakening the role of informal institutions like Jirga and farmers organizations, lack of access to agricultural institutions, the restricted role of women in farming and unfavourable attitude of farmers towards new agrarian technologies, all were the significant contributing factors that negatively influenced sugarcane productivity. Applications of this study: The findings of the study be used by the agricultural department, NGOs, and the government while taking into consideration the factors responsible for sugarcane productivity. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study is novel that no study has yet conducted while considering sociological factors in sugarcane production in Pakistan. This research a unique in that provides a base for agricultural scientists to keep in mind social factors as well in agrarian production besides technological factors.