Sunspot Theory and Agricultural Decision Making: Implications for Rural Development (A Thematic Review and Critical Synthesis)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54938/ijemdss.2026.05.4.766Keywords:
Sunspot theory, Solar cycle variability, Agricultural decision-making, Climate-informed rural development, Smallholder vulnerability, Monsoon dynamics, Institutional reform, PakistanAbstract
Sunspot theory’s role in agriculture is an intriguing concept that could benefit farmers facing climate challenges. The present article has reviewed numerous studies on solar physics and its indirect effects on agriculture and farmers’ livelihoods, with a particular focus on Pakistan. This article discusses how the sunspot cycle affects climate patterns, crop production, commodities, and individual farmers. In turn, these impacts are reviewed in-depth in the final section of the article. The sunspot-related variations in climate could have a noticeable effect on regional crop production. The changes in rainfall patterns associated with solar cycles leads to many agricultural issues. This study explores these connections and applies them to South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Pakistan. The study notes that many factors beyond solar activity, such as land ownership, gender-specific challenges, and government policies can contribute to food shortages in Pakistan. By organizing studies into thematic structures rather than cataloguing individual contributions, this review identifies research gaps and policy pathways for embedding solar-cycle intelligence into agricultural decision-making.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Qamar Ul Islam, Rakhshanda Kousar, Eman Aslam, Nisa Fatima, Urooj Zafar
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