Small Farmers And Factors That Motivate Them Towards Agricultural Entrepreneurship Activities

Author(s): Mohd Riduwan Mohd Hussin1*, Muhammad Hasmi Abu Hassan Asaari, Noorliza Karia Anees, Janee Ali@Hamid

Keywords: Small farmers, entrepreneurship factors

DOI:

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Abstract: Entrepreneurship in agribusiness is among efforts undertaken to transform the country’s agricultural sector towards a higher dynamism. Dependence on middlemen in the marketing of agricultural products should be reduced step by step to ensure that farmers get a return commensurate with the efforts that have been put in over the years. Returns are important in motivating more individuals to enter the field of agriculture, which has been ignored especially by the young and highly educated. In addition to encouraging the participation of more individuals in the agricultural sector, good returns to farmers will also help the government to improve the standard of living of farmers while reducing the rate of extreme poverty in the future. This study was carried out to identify the factors motivating small farmers to engage in farming and entrepreneurial activities. The methodology used in this study was face-to-face interviews using set questionnaires to gather information. A total of 400 respondents from small farmers who cultivated vegetables, miscellaneous crops, fruits and aquaculture were interviewed. This study covered nine states in Peninsular Malaysia, namely, Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Penang, Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The results from this study show that the involvement of young people in farming remains low. Almost half of the respondents interviewed were aged over 50 years and most had just primary and secondary level education. In terms of entrepreneurial factors, other than knowledge of agribusiness management and marketing, the factors capital, the environment, and availability of training were the constraints that prevented small farmers from engaging in agribusiness activities.
 

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