This paper presents the finding of a research project conducted within the framework of the research project (Livelihood Futures) being funded by the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR North-South). The main focus of the paper is identification and analysis of household food security/livelihood concerns and coping strategies in Mansehra and Battagram districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. Both districts were severely affected due to the 2005  earthquake and 2010 floods; while Battagram district was also a victim of the war against terror particularly during 2010-11.

The data was collected from randomly selected small farming households by using qualitative and quantitative methods of social research. The results indicate that lack of economic access to food and climatic extremes (particularly floods) are the foremost concerns of small farmers in the case study areas. The fear of becoming food insecure was being coped with by eating cheap and less nutritious diet, reduction in the quantity of food and selling of household assets etc. Food storage and migration were also reported as key coping strategies in the perspective of food insecurity and climate extremes. A majority of the respondents (small farmers) in the area also reported a shift in their cropping patterns – from the production of staple food to cash crops, mainly vegetables. The motivation behind this trend was to improve income to buy increasingly inaccessible food. Most farmers also reported production related constrains such as scarcity of water for irrigation, inadequate market infrastructure and high cost of inputs (particularly fertilisers). The paper also highlights how agricultural extension services and other related agencies can assist farmers of disaster/conflict affected areas to cope with food insecurity and climate change.