Analysis of entrepreneurial behaviour of women farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study analysed entrepreneurial behaviour of women farmers in Abia state, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling method was used to select 120 women farmers from whom data were collected using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, entrepreneurial behaviour index and ordinary least square (OLS) regression technique were used to analyse data. Results showed that mean age, household size, farming experience and farm size of the women farmers were 44 years, 6 persons, 16 years and 0.6 hectares respectively. Mean entrepreneurial behaviour index of the women farmers was 44.34. The OLS regression result with double-log as lead equation posted an R² value of 0.6392 and revealed that age, educational level, extension contact, farm income, membership to cooperative society and profit motive were significant determinants of entrepreneurial behaviour of women farmers. Majority of the women farmers had high input cost, difficulty in getting loan, land procurement issues and lack of requisite support from research institutions as constraints to their entrepreneurial engagements. The study recommends that state and local governments should make policies and establish programmes that will promote entrepreneurial skills of women farmers, curb unemployment and alleviate poverty among women.

Keywords: Behaviour index, entrepreneurial behaviour, entrepreneurship, women farmers