1. SANAULLAH - Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
2. SAEEDA YOUSAF - Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
3. JAVAID IQBAL - Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan & Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
4. ZARAK KHAN - Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
5. HINA - Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
6. AAMIR IQBAL - Institute of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (IBGE), The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
7. NOWSHER YOUSAF - Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Climatic parameters such as temperature and rainfall have a significant impact on crop yields, vegetables, fruits, and water resources all over the world, including Pakistan. This study focuses on the effects of temperature and rainfall fluctuations on crop yields, specifically Maize (Zea mays) and Rice (Oryza sativa), in Mingora City of District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Pakistan. Primary data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 60 questionnaires were designed and filled to examine the effects of temperature and rainfall on maize and rice in the last 18 years. The survey indicated that the high yield of maize was recorded due to an increase in mean temperature and heavy rainfall during the period 2000-2006, while the minimum yields of maize were found due to a decrease in the mean temperature and rainfall pattern during 2007-2012. Moreover, no significant impacts were observed with increasing temperature on rice yields. However, the yield of rice increased with an increase in rainfall pattern during 2000-2006. The resultant analysis indicates that water availability shows a strong association with rice yield. The survey concludes that a better yield is obtained with an increase in temperature and rainfall, while in areas where there is a decrease or no change in temperature and rainfall occurrence, a decline or no change in crop yields is observed. One reason for the decline is the lack of proper irrigation systems in agricultural land due to the topography, as the agricultural land is located at a high altitude compared to the River Swat. Therefore, a proper irrigation system is needed in the rain-fed areas to improve maize and rice yields through proper channel construction from the Swat River. Furthermore, research is required to analyze long-term data of changing climate and crop yields to provide adaptation measures to farmers from the adverse effects of rainfall and temperature.
Rainfall pattern, Temperature fluctuation, Yield, Mingora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.