ANEELA SHAHEEN , SADAF MAHMOOD, MUHAMMAD ATIF , RAO SABIR SATTAR
DOI: https://doi.org/This study explored the prevalence of supernatural beliefs and their influence on agricultural practices, particularly in rural and agrarian communities where traditional worldviews remain deeply rooted. Supernatural beliefs such as faith in spirits, deities, omens, and rituals play a significant role in shaping farmers’ decisions regarding planting, harvesting, pest control, and land management. Agriculture remains the cornerstone of rural life and economy in, Pakistan, where a majority of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on farming activities. Despite the growing influence of modern agricultural technologies and scientific farming methods, traditional and supernatural beliefs continue to play a significant role in shaping farmers' practices and perceptions. Many farmers attribute agricultural success or failure to the will of supernatural forces, including divine blessings, evil eyes, ancestral spirits, and mystical interventions. Present study was conducted in the Punjab, Pakistan. Multistage sampling technique was used to draw the sample. At 1st stage Faisalabad division was selected purposively from the Punjab, province. At second three districts i.e Faisalabad, Jhnag and Toba Tek Singh was selected through purposive sampling technique. At third stage one tehsil i.e. Samundri, 18 Hazri and Kamalia was selected respectively from each selected district through convenience sampling technique. At fourth stage 6 union councils (2 from each tehsil) was selected randomly. At next stage a sample of 480 (80 from each UC and 160 from each tehsil) respondents were selected through online sample size calculator at 5% error. Moreover, data was collected with the help of interview schedule. Collected data was analysed through SPSS. Findings show that rural farmers in Punjab believe in and act in ways that are magical when they are growing crops and taking care of animals. Among country farmers, supernatural beliefs and practices could be broken down into two main groups: traditional and religious. On the other hand, supernatural beliefs and practices can be used to avoid and treat physical illnesses, as well as to help animals that are having trouble getting pregnant or having sexual problems. Also, magical beliefs and actions can be linked to the fact that animals can ward off the evil eye. Findings from the study showed that rural Punjabi farmers have a wide range of spiritual beliefs and practices that affect farming and taking care of animals. The study also looked at the cultural meanings of these beliefs and practices. This study has many different effects on both policymaking and academic fields. This is one of the few academic studies that looks into whether or not rural farmers in Punjab have spiritual beliefs and practices related to farming crops and taking care of animals.
