Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Agricultural Value Chain- A Study of Agro-Entrepreneurs in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the entrepreneurial opportunities in the Nigerian agricultural value chain, particularly in Adamawa state. It also looked at the impact of these entrepreneurial opportunities regarding the development of farming entrepreneurs in Adamawa, Nigeria. Specifically, the study intended to establish entrepreneurial opportunities in the value chain for agro-entrepreneurs and determine the extent of exploiting entrepreneurial opportunities by agro-entrepreneurs and the impact of entrepreneurial opportunities on the social and economic development of agro-entrepreneurs determining the challenges facing agro-entrepreneurs in exploiting entrepreneurial opportunities in Adamawa, Nigeria. The study was based on a survey research design. Data were collected through structured questionnaires from 430 randomly sampled agro-entrepreneurs nationwide. The tools for data analyses included percentages, mean and standard deviation, while hypotheses were tested using linear regression analysis and Pearson product-moment correlation (PPMC). The results of studies indicated that the agro-entrepreneurs recognized various entrepreneurial opportunities along the value chain, significantly influencing their socioeconomic development. Also, the exploitation rates of entrepreneurial opportunities among agro-entrepreneurs significantly influenced overall socioeconomic development in Adamawa State.

In contrast, entrepreneurial skills possessed by agro-entrepreneurs influence their socioeconomic development. The study also found that the challenges facing agro-entrepreneurs in exploiting opportunities along the value chain include lack of capital and poor accessibility to finance, inadequate access to information, huge contrast between agro-tech and traditional impalements, lack of technical support, lack of marketing motivation and lack of new agribusiness facilities. The study concluded that entrepreneurial opportunities along the value chain define the overall benefits of the actors. The study recommended that there should be an effective mode of communication between officials of agricultural development program (ADP), agric-extension officials and agro-entrepreneurs. Also, the study recommended training agro-entrepreneurs on various exploitation skills.