Exploring Farmers’ Perceptions of Smog and its Impacts on Human Health and Environment: Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan

Author(s) : Shoaib Ashraf, and Ejaz Ashraf

Digital object identifier:

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF060115

Abstract:

Smog poses a catastrophic threat to human health and the environment and contributes to about 128,000 annual deaths in Pakistan. Its concentration exceeds 2.5 PM in major urban and agricultural hubs like Lahore. Agricultural practices like stubble burning and agrochemical overuse significantly accelerate this crisis, alongside transportation and industry. This study explores farmers’ perceptions regarding smog and its subsequent impacts on health and the environment in Punjab, Pakistan using a mixed model approach. Random sampling technique was employed to select 218 respondents across two tehsils from district Sargodha. The data were collected from well structured survey instrument on five-point likert scale. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS. Results revealed a critical gap in awareness, though approximately 30% to 38% of respondents agreed that the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides directly leads to air and water pollution, ultimately contributing to smog formation. Given the severe health risks and environmental degradation, there is an urgent need for institutional intervention. The government should devise targeted policy framework and educational campaigns to raise awareness among the farming community to encourage them for adoption of environment friendly sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate smog and to provide safeguard for human health.