Sustainability Assessment of Livelihood Strategies in Agriculture Sector of Pakistan–A Systematic Review

Abstract

The agricultural dependent population that engage in self-sustaining livelihood strategies remain resilient to unpredictable events regardless of the type of livelihood strategies. This study aims to identify sustainable livelihood strategies adopted by agricultural dependent population in Pakistan. In this regard, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
(PRISMA) framework is used to synthesise the literature from 2000 to 2023. The sustainability aspect of strategies is examined through three broadly accepted dimensions (environmental, social and economic). The study found out that the diversification dimension of sustainable agriculture is more resilient to any unpredictable events and has better livelihood outcomes. The maximum vulnerabilities were associated with weather shocks, limited climate-adaptation measures and policy negligence. This paper contributes to identifying the dominant and sustainable agricultural strategies and developing linkages among capitals and sustainable livelihood outcomes. It also highlights the research gap in agriculture literature given the changing scenarios according to the sectoral needs.