Punjab Province Of Pakistan Research Articles

Economic, social, and administrative barriers to achieving the sustainable development goal of good health and well-being

Good health and well-being are embedded in the 3rd Goal amongst the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The primary objective of this research was to identify the most critical economic, social, and administrative barriers to implementing the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A sequential exploratory design and case study technique were used, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. In the first stage, in-depth interviews with 50 key officials were conducted to identify the most critical barriers to the EPI program. A quantitative analysis was then performed based on the results obtained from qualitative analysis, and rank orders of barriers were received from the same health department experts. The results indicate that twenty-eight barriers can cause implementation problems for this program. Still, the ten barriers that gained the maximum hits are the most important barriers, which include Shortage of vaccinators, mismanagement of vaccines’ cold chain, biometric android application, ice-lined refrigerators, communication gap, inadequate legislation of EPI program, capacity building issues with EPI staff, Misconceptions about EPI program, lack of awareness of the parents and community, refusal cases and inadequate cooperation of lady health workers (LHWs). Coordinated efforts of the government and the public are highly recommended to address these barriers.

Moderating effect of sleep quality in the relationship between coping and distress among medical students.

The present study examined the moderating effects of sleep quality in the relationship between coping and distress among medical college students. Present study was conducted to ensure the mental health of medical students and to dig out the reasons behind their disturbed health which can directly impact their performance at work. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey and was distributed to students at various medical institutions in the Punjab province of Pakistan from October 2019 to June 2020. The sample comprised 369 participants (120 males; 32.5%). The survey included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Kessler Scale of Psychological Distress (K10), Brief Cope Scale, and Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale. The results showed there was a significant relationship between coping and distress. More specifically, adaptive coping and distress were negatively associated (r=-.24), and maladaptive coping and distress were positively associated (r=.46). Moreover, the present study found that poor sleep quality was a significant positive predictor of distress. Moderation analysis showed that sleep quality was a significant moderator in the relationship between adaptive coping and distress (ΔR2=.011, β=-.36, p<.01) as well as between maladaptive coping and distress (ΔR2=.021, β=-.17, p<.01). The study's findings clearly showed that sleep quality is a significant moderator in the relationship between coping (both adaptive and maladaptive) and distress among medical students.

Whole Genome Analysis in Consanguineous Families Reveals New Loci for Speech Sound Disorder (SSD).

Speech is the most common means of communication in humans. Any defect in accurate speech production ability results in the development of speech sound disorder (SSD), a condition that can significantly impair an individual's academic performance, social interactions, and relationships with peers and adults. This study investigated the genetic basis of SSD in three Pakistani families. We performed family-based genome-wide parametric linkage analysis and homozygosity mapping in three consanguineous families with SSD from the Punjab province of Pakistan. The Test for Assessment of Articulation and Phonology in Urdu (TAAPU) was used to analyze the speech articulation data and determine the Percentage Correct Consonants (PCC) score. The PCC score defined the affected and unaffected individuals in each family. Parametric linkage analysis revealed a linkage to chromosome 5 (5q21.3-5q23.1) with a significant logarithm of the odds (LOD) score of 3.13 in a Pakistani family with specific language impairment-97 (PKSLI-97) under an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. The other two families showed a suggestive linkage at 6p22.1, 14q12, and 16q12.1 under the recessive mode of inheritance. Interestingly, homozygosity mapping showed a loss of heterozygosity in the linkage region at 5q15-5q23.1, shared among seven affected (mostly in the younger generation) and one unaffected individual of PKSLI-97. Our analysis identified the 6p22 locus previously implicated in dyslexia, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), and language impairment, confirming the role of KIAA0319 and DCDC2 in this locus. These findings provide statistical evidence for the genomic regions associated with articulation disorder and offer future opportunities to further the role of genes in speech production.

Impact assessment of agricultural droughts on water use efficiency in different climatic regions of Punjab Province Pakistan using MODIS time series imagery

AbstractDrought is the most destructive phenomenon that distresses the terrestrial carbon cycle balance and crop production. The variation in evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary productivity (GPP) is a significant cause of agricultural drought effects on water use efficiency. This study aims to evaluate the impact of agricultural drought on WUE and it's anomalies in different climate regions. The standard vegetation index was used to measure the extent of agricultural drought. WUE was calculated using the ratio of ET, GPP, and climate classification using the De Martonne method. This study was conducted over the last 22 years, from 2001 to 2022. Meanwhile, 2001, 2002, 2014, and 2018 were considered high drought years based on a 22‐year analysis. According to remote sensing analysis of ET and GPP, the WUE increased throughout drought in all climate regions and more strongly in the arid zone than in humid regions. Humid areas were more vital due to drought than arid ones. WUE anomalies badge with increased drought severity across all climates except the very humid zone. Humid climates saw faster recovery times than arid ones, and areas experienced severe droughts. The findings of this research are essential for understanding the carbon and water cycles for agriculture management. The analysis of drought severity and WUE across arid climate regions helped analyse the varying impact of drought on WUE due to climate change. The significance of this study includes informing agricultural, water resource, and drought management planning in the Punjab Province, an agricultural region vulnerable to climate change. This study holds important learnings for agricultural regions worldwide. It has practical and scientific importance regarding agricultural systems' specific stresses and responses to droughts.

Gap analysis between skills requirements for research support services and LIS/IM curricula

The primary goal of this study was to identify gaps in curriculum coverage and required skills for research support services (RSS) in university libraries in the Punjab province of Pakistan. A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used to meet its objective. To collect data for the quantitative strand, a cross-sectional survey with a closed-ended questionnaire was conducted. The population for the cross-sectional survey was reference/research librarians working in university libraries in the Punjab province. SPSS was used to analyze quantitative data. In the qualitative strand, the curriculum documents of seven LIS/IM schools in the Punjab province were examined by using the content analysis technique. Results of both strands were compared for gap analysis. The findings revealed a gap between the skills required for RSS and the offerings of LIS/IM schools. The findings have practical implications for LIS/IM schools that will help to realign their curricula to meet market needs.

Forecasting Mango Production and Area in Punjab, Pakistan for 2021-2029

Production of Mango in Pakistan has increased due to use of improved farm inputs and better management practices. Despite an increased production and rising demand in the export market, the potential of mango export has, however, not been fully achieved. Pakistan has comparative advantage in the production of Mango and enormous potential exists for its export in the vast Middle East market. The Punjab province of Pakistan which account for 63% of the country's total mango output. The objective of this study is to predict the area and output of mangoes of Pakistan's Punjab province for the year 2029. For this purpose, the 63-year data from 1957-2019 has been collected from Crop Reporting Service Punjab. Box-Jenkins method has been used to build an appropriate Univaraite ARIMA model. The best model was chosen after a comparison of the models' mean absolute percentage error, root mean squared error, stationary R-square, and other properties. The area's acceptable model was ARIMA (1,1,0) and production’s acceptable model was ARIMA (1,1,1). Additionally, this estimate predicts that by 2029, the area will be (246.46-279.63) hectors and output will be 1358.10-1538.47) million tons. The results of this study will be useful to government planners, marketers, businesses and purchasing nations.

Fiscal Decentralization and Educational Outcomes: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

A large number of countries are transferring financial, administrative, and political powers to the local governments. In Pakistan, devolution reforms were launched through the Local Government Ordinance in 2001. This research investigates whether the higher autonomy of district governments could improve education outcomes in their respective districts or not. The Generalized Methods of Moments is employed for a panel of 34 districts of Punjab province, Pakistan, during 2003-2015. The results reveal that fiscal decentralization improves education outcomes in Punjab province of Pakistan. The enrolment in primary school is a measure of education outcome and improved in the districts of Punjab. In addition, the decentralization process during Pervez Musharraf's regime could not change the structure of the economy as a whole. Therefore, decentralization of the education sector in all provinces is suggested to reinforce the benefits of fiscal decentralization.

Artificial intelligence (AI) inspired an innovative approach for real-time flow measurements – water distributions at outlets, in Punjab province Pakistan

ABSTRACT Accurate water metering is essential for effective water management, especially for measured and equitable distribution of canal flows, most imperative in Pakistan. The inflows distributed through outlets must adhere to pre-designated levels, defined by Punjab Irrigation Department from head to tail. With recent channels lining, the outlets sanctioned flow are found changed requiring adjustments. Furthermore, there is lack of reliable mechanisms for continuous flow regulations, resulting in unmanaged distributions. The focus of the reported work was on precise and real-time discharge monitoring at outlets using a newly developed device utilizing Artificial Intelligence. During validation training, strong agreement was observed, and all evaluation parameters supported the device accuracy for measurements. In detailed studies of canal operations, the sanctioned discharges of individual outlets along selected distributaries were found significantly inequitable. Out of 162 outlets, 42 were suspended for being unmanaged, with tail users receiving ≤ 50% of their fair intakes. Additionally, there were instances of massive irrational supplies exceeding 200% of allocated discharges. The developed device has potential to accurately measure real-time discharges for managed distributions. Conclusively, the challenging task of fair and equity-based discharge allocations, in conjunction with Warabandi system, necessitates the reevaluation of the allocated flow quantity at each outlet.

Adapting to Climate Change in Vulnerable Areas: Farmers’ Perceptions in the Punjab, Pakistan

Climate variability and change pose a substantial threat to agricultural practices and livelihoods in the Punjab province of Pakistan, a region of agricultural significance in South Asia. In particular, farmers residing in vulnerable parts of Punjab will be affected by a combination of high exposure to the impacts of climate events, the innate sensitivity of agricultural systems, and constraints on farmers’ adaptive capacity. The situation requires closer engagement with vulnerable farming communities of Punjab to assess their vulnerability and build their capacity for adaptation actions. Through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with farmers from four highly vulnerable districts of Punjab (Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan), we explored farmers’ perceptions of climate change, their adaptation strategies, and enablers and limitations on adaptation options imposed by the enabling environment. We found issues around water governance, knowledge exchange, and market arrangements for crops as key limitations to farmers’ local adaptation action in highly resource-constrained settings. Moreover, the results indicated the need to address equity issues for small-scale compared to large-scale farmers. Farmers valued their experience-based local knowledge and peer-to-peer sharing networks as pivotal resources in pursuit of their practice-based learning. The research findings highlighted the necessity of directed institutional assistance to empower adaptation by vulnerable small-scale farmers. This study emphasizes the critical significance of the enabling environment that facilitates vulnerable farmers to implement adaptation strategies, thereby promoting the adoption of Vulnerable-Smart Agriculture.

Demographic and clinical features of dengue fever infection in Pakistan: a cross-sectional epidemiological study

BackgroundDengue fever caused by dengue virus is a tropical disease and is among the deadliest vector-borne diseases. The humid and hot summers of Pakistan support the probation of the vectors responsible for the transmission of viral and other parasitic diseases.MethodologyA retrospective study, from 2012- 2019, of dengue infected individuals from the Punjab province of Pakistan was carried out to analyze epidemiology, clinical and laboratory findings of subjects with dengue virus infection. Data was derived from National Institute of Health (NIH) followed by Dengue control program of Pakistan, covering the incidence rate in 36 districts of Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) respectively. Patients data including the presence of dengue specific antigen or/and antibodies such as NS1 and IgG/IgM were observed. The study also included the analysis of demographic data, geographic data, and the month-wise distribution of dengue cases to examine seasonal trends.ResultsWe analyzed 25,682 dengue infected individuals. The statistical analysis revealed a significant association between genders in which male population was more affected by dengue than females. It was also noted that the middle age group was the most affected age group while the highest number of cases were reported in October. Rawalpindi and Lahore were the most affected cities in Punjab province while Islamabad represented the highest number of cases during the recent outbreak in 2019. The IgM and IgG antibodies were highly prevalent among the infected patients.ConclusionDengue is endemic in Pakistan, circulating throughout the year. Highest number of cases were observed in the month of October, September and November respectively. Association between climate change and vector-borne diseases need to be investigated in Pakistan as they significantly influence the timing and intensity of dengue and other disease outbreaks. Further exploration of hematological parameters is required to better diagnose and treat the disease. For the effective control of dengue outbreaks, awareness campaigns on sewage management and vector control along with social factors are strongly recommended for better control and eradication of the disease.

Examining the Role of FinTech Services on Customers Retention of Islamic Banks in Pakistan: An Empirical Assessment

The objective of this research is to examine the influence of several variables, such as fintech payments, advisory services, and fin-tech financing, on the retention of customers in Islamic banks. The researcher used quantitative research design and positivistam philosophy to conduct this research. The target population comprises Islamic banking customers, with the sample drawn from 300 individuals holding accounts in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Data collection was facilitated through an adopted questionnaire administered to respondents. The findings reveal a significant impact of FinTech Payments, Advisory Services, and FinTech Financing on customer retention within the Islamic banking industry, showcasing the importance of these elements in shaping customer loyalty. This study stands out for its comprehensive examination of various facets related to FinTech and their direct and indirect effects on customer retention within the unique context of Islamic banking. However, it's crucial to acknowledge a limitation regarding the generalizability of the results beyond the studied population. Despite this constraint, the research offers valuable insights for Islamic financial institutions aiming to bolster customer retention through strategic utilization of FinTech-related elements and the cultivation of trust among their clientele. By embracing these findings, Islamic banks can enhance their customer relationship management strategies and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving financial landscape.

A Morphometric Analysis of Suid Remains of the genus Conohyus from the Siwalik Beds of District Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan

The current fresh Suid dental material was gathered from Pakistan's Siwalik hills, which are located in Punjab and stretch into Northern Pakistan. There have been reports of fossils being found at sites belonging to this genus in the Hasnot hamlet, which is situated in the Punjab province of Pakistan in the district Jhelum region. These particular examples are representatives of a small suid genus called Conohyus, which is commonly found in the Siwalik Mountains. The material that has been analyzed has provided a significant amount of insight into the underlying dentition that is typical of this genus. The teeth of the genus Conohyus are a little more advanced than the condition found in the genus Palaeochoerus.

Rural households' livelihood adaptation strategies in the face of changing climate: A case study from Pakistan

Rural and agricultural communities' adaptation to climate change has gained significant attention owing to many countries' vulnerability to climate change risks. A similar trend has been witnessed in South Asia, a highly climate-vulnerable region, where research has grown dramatically considering the agriculture sector's vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. However, little attention has been paid to the adaptation of the livelihoods of rural households. This research, therefore, takes the case of Pakistan to explore livelihood adaptation strategies of rural households to climate change and investigate the factors that expedite or halt the adoption of livelihood diversification strategies. A multistage sampling design is used in this research, where 480 rural households from the Punjab province of Pakistan were selected and interviewed using stratified and random sampling approaches. A multivariate probit (MVP) regression model is employed to analyze the factors affecting households' adoption of livelihood adaptation strategies. The results show that besides adaptation of agronomic operations (agricultural adaptation strategies), rural households in the study area employed a wide range of strategies to adapt their livelihoods to climate change. These strategies include poultry and livestock farming, value addition of farm produce, trading of animals and farm commodities, small businesses (shops, etc.), daily wage labor, horticultural crop farming, and non-farming jobs. The estimates of the MVP model revealed that respondents' education, household size, income, access to a credit facility, access to farm advisory services, and access to climate forecasts have significantly influenced the choice of livelihood adaptation strategies. Based on these findings, this research recommends that the authorities should make efforts to improve farmers' understanding of the adaptation of climate change risks and educate them to adopt multiple livelihood options to improve the resilience of their livelihoods to climate-induced risks. This research has important policy implications for other countries with similar socio-economic features.

Factors Leading Marginalized Transgenders Towards Digital Entrepreneurship in Pakistan

The transgenders in Pakistan are facing challenges in jobs quota and starting their businesses in Pakistan. Transgenders are a marginalized community in Pakistan facing challenges in establishing their businesses. There are fewer opportunities for lesbians and guys in Pakistan to start their physical business due to bullying and harassment. The objective of the current research was to measure the impact of entrepreneurial support and entrepreneurial opportunities on the digital entrepreneurship of transgender people in the presence of microfinance loans and government policies in developing economies like Pakistan. A sample of 56 marginalized transgender people from the Punjab province of Pakistan was collected for the findings. The statistical analysis is performed by using SPSS 24 and Smart PLS 4. The partial least square–structural equation modelling (PLS–SEM) approach was used to measure the findings of measurement model assessment and structural model assessment. It is empirically concluded that the effect of entrepreneurial support and entrepreneurial opportunities on digital entrepreneurship for transgender people is large. Therefore, microfinance loans and government policies for supporting transgenders in digital entrepreneurship are critically required when there is appropriate support for transgenders for the accomplishment of entrepreneurial opportunities. Furthermore, the government of Pakistan is needed to plan and execute reasonable policies for sustainable entrepreneurship to motivate transgenders to the digital entrepreneurial environment. The execution of entrepreneurial policies by the Pakistani government and support of microfinance loans can increase digital entrepreneurship by transgenders in Pakistan, and this marginalized community can achieve success and standard life. This study also provides some recommendations for future studies.

INTEGRATED USE OF PSB AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS TO IMPROVE YIELD AND QUALITY OF BELL PEPPER (Capsicum Annum L.) CV. GREEN WONDER

Bell pepper is an important Solanaceous crop that is cultivated all around the globe for its economical and nutritional value. In Pakistan, it is cultivated mainly in Sindh and Punjab province of Pakistan. However, average yield ha-1 is quite low as compared to the rest of the world. One of the main reasons for this low yield is poor phosphorous status. The current study was conducted to estimate the effects of organic application combined with PSB biofertilizers (Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria) on growth and yield of bell pepper. Organic amendments included leaf compost (LC), farmyard manure (FYM) and poultry manure (PM). Bell pepper cultivar “Green Wonder” was used as test crop. FYM and PM showed better results as compared to LC in most of the measured parameters. Plant height in FYM and PM was 59.79 and 59.07 cm while PSB application produced 67.84 cm high plants. Maximum leaf area was 176.98 cm2 that for FYM and was further increased up to 204.43 cm2 when supplemented with PSB. Bell pepper yield was also maximum in FYM i.e. 1211.7 g while PM showed a value of 1077.6. g. However, when PSB was applied in combination with these treatments, yield plant-1 was further increased up to 1393.4 and 1227.6 g, respectively. Total soluble solids were statistically at par among all the organic amendments but higher than control. Ascorbic acid was maximum in PM (58 mg 100 g-1) and followed by FYM (55.53 mg 100 g-1). PSB application showed a value of 72.46 mg 100 g-1. It is recommended from these results that application of organic amendments and PSB should be practiced enhancing that yield and quality of bell pepper.

Minimum dietary diversity and associated determinants among children aged 6–23 months in Pakistan

Pakistan is facing a high prevalence of malnutrition and Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) is one of the core indicators that remain below the recommended level. This study assesses MDD and its associated factors among children aged 6 to 23 months in Pakistan. The study uses a cross-sectional study using the dataset of the latest available Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) for all provinces of Pakistan. Multistage sampling is used to select 18,699 children aged 6 to 23 months. The empirical method is the Logistic Regression Analysis and Chi-Square Test. The dataset is freely and publicly available with all identifier information removed, and no ethics approvals are required. About one-fifth (20%) of infants and young children aged 6 to 23 months had met MDD, this number varies from 17 to 29%, highest in Baluchistan and lowest in Punjab province of Pakistan. The age group (18–23) indicates a 2.45 times greater chance of having MDD. Age (< 0.001), diarrhea (0.01), prenatal care (0.06), mother’s education (< 0.001), computer access (< 0.001), wealth quantile (< 0.001), and residence (< 0.001) were significantly associated with meeting MDD. However, gender (0.6) and mother’s age (0.4) both were statistically insignificant in meeting MDD. Regarding mothers’ education, compared to no education, the chance of MDD is 1.45 times greater for highly educated mothers in the Punjab province. Dietary diversity among children aged 6 to 23 months in Pakistan is low. It is recommended that mothers should be aware and encouraged to use dietary diverse food for infants and younger children.

Atitude e componentes de capacitação de jovens rurais para práticas agrícolas sustentáveis: estudo de caso da província de Punjab, Paquistão

ABSTRACT: Inclusion of rural youth is of great importance to facilitate nutritional security and make the food chain more sustainable. A positive attitude is necessary for active participation in agricultural activities. This case study was an attempt to check the attitude of rural youth regarding sustainable farming and its contributing factors. The study was carried out in the Punjab province of Pakistan and a transverse research design was used for this quantitative study. An interview schedule was used for getting the face-to-face response of rural youth. To make the unknown population of rural youth in Punjab, the Fisher formula was used and a sample of 413 was selected from purposely selected three districts of Punjab. After recording data, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. Descriptive Statistics was used to explain the response of rural youth for the decision on the base of data. Only 53 young farmers said that they have never been part of the formal education system and maximum number of farmers was close to 24 years of age or more than that. Rural youth of Punjab is lacking in non-formal education for acquiring or maintaining their skills &amp; interests. Unemployment and having limited farm income are the biggest challenges that rural youth is facing. Rural youth show a strong inclination towards opting for sustainable farming alongside the availability of a supportive network. Regarding to learning capacities rural youth is lacking related to knowledge, communication means, novel approaches and in promoting sustainable farming initiatives. To achieve the goal of sustainability in changing environment, rural youth must have access to continuous training, communication sources, membership, or association with organizations with novel ideas covering all the changes happening in the farming business.

Isolation and identification of Clostridium perfringens and its toxins from mutton in Lahore City, Punjab, Pakistan.

The present study was aimed to detect C. perfringens and identify its toxins in mutton samples collected from Lahore City in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A total of 40 samples of minced and non‑minced mutton were collected from local butcher and retail shops representing four areas of the city. The samples were subjected to ELISA for the detection of C. perfringens alpha, beta and epsilon toxins. The samples were simultaneously processed for bacterial isolation. The isolates were confirmed both by biochemical testing and a multiplex PCR targeting alpha, beta and epsilon toxin genes of C. perfringens. While 10% (4/40) of the samples were positive for C. perfringens alpha toxins, 17.5% (7/40) of the samples were positive for the alpha toxin gene. The present study indicated that the samples collected from the local butcher shops were contaminated with C. perfringens and its toxins. Interestingly, no such contamination was detected in any of the samples collected from retail meat shops. In conclusion, improper hygienic conditions at butcher shops could lead to the contamination of mutton with C. perfringens and its toxins.

Beyond Subsistence: Linking Citrus Smallholders to High-Value Markets for Sustainable Supply Chain Development in Pakistan

Recent evidence suggests that Modern Supply Chains (MSC) in the agrifood industry have the potential to improve production efficiency and scale. However, the inclusion of smallholders for Sustainable Supply Chain Development (SSCD) is a growing concern for policymakers aiming to increase the profitability of farming communities. This study investigates the efficiency and inclusiveness of farmers in the citrus supply chain at the upstream level and factors responsible for SSCD using survey data from the Punjab province of Pakistan. The study employs endogenous treatment effect and principal component analysis apart from the descriptive analysis to explore study objectives. Results indicate that large farmers with abundant resources tend to participate in MSC, whereas smallholders are more likely to be inclined to Traditional Supply Chain (TSC) networks. The study also finds that participating in MSC has a positive impact on farmers' efficiency, and factors such as off-farm income, orchard size, education level, and access to extension services significantly affect profitability. The results of the principal component analysis revealed that for SSCD, six sets of factors, such as performance and quality, risk and climate, economics and market exploitation, knowledge and information, geographic and transportation, and innovation capability, are addressable. Therefore, these results suggest that policymakers should provide training programs, agriculture extension services, improved infrastructure, and educational facilities in rural areas to help smallholders alleviate poverty by creating sustainability in the agri-food industry.

Unearthing the Synergy of Entrepreneurial Skills, Smallholder Farming, and High-Value Agriculture: A Case Study from Punjab, Pakistan

Entrepreneurship is a key to the improvement in the quality of individuals, households, and communities viz a viz sustained economic growth of the country. Smallholder farmers’ entrepreneurship is the response to new opportunities to gain economic gains rather than subsistence agriculture. For example, to grow High-Value Agricultural (HVA) crops rather than conventional crops. The present study aims to assess the entrepreneurial characteristics of smallholders in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. For this purpose, cross-sectional data of 450 farmers were collected through a well-designed questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using simple statistics and inferential statistics. The probit model results show a positive significant impact of education, prior experience, risk aversion, knowledge and skills about crops, and self-actualization on the opportunity exploitation by the entrepreneurial HVA farmers. The finding of the factor analysis shows three important groups labeled as marketing, policy, and institutional support in the cultivation of HVA crops. Moreover, the outcomes of the multiple regression analysis reveal that emphasizing technological opportunities provides a novel viewpoint for entrepreneurial HVA farmers. Even in the absence of modern technological innovations, these farmers can still identify and capitalize on technological opportunities. Therefore, to foster entrepreneurship in HVA farming, it is suggested that the accessibility of improved seed varieties of HVA crops and access to market intelligence should be made more favorable for entrepreneurs.