Predictors of Agricultural Technology Adoption Among the Cassava Farmers in the North- Central Nigeria (Published)
This research paper delves into the underexplored realm of agricultural technology adoption behaviour among cassava farmers in North Central Nigeria, with a focus on elucidating the predictors of technology adoption within the region. Leveraging a quantitative survey research design, data was collected from 377 cassava farmers through structured questionnaires. Findings reveal significant relationships between various factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, price value, hedonic motivation, prior experience, and the adoption of agricultural technology. Through multiple linear regression analyses, it was established that these factors exert substantial influences on technology adoption behaviour among cassava farmers. Based on empirical evidence, policy recommendations were formulated to enhance the adoption of agricultural technologies among cassava farmers, aiming to foster a transition from subsistence to commercial farming, thereby bolstering agricultural productivity and socio-economic development in the region. These recommendations encompass governmental support for improved cassava seedlings, duty-free importation of agricultural implements, procurement and distribution of tractors, expansion of extension services, fertilizer production facilities, subsidized procurement of agricultural machinery, and enhanced importation policies for agro-chemicals. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics underlying technology adoption in agricultural contexts, offering insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers alike.
Keywords: Nigeria, agricultural technology adoption, cassava farmers, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, performance expectancy, price value, prior experience, social influence
Entrepreneurial Skills, Self-Motivation, Social Influence and Self-Employment: A Survey of the Literature (Published)
This article provides a review of literature on entrepreneurial skills acquisition, self employment and mediating variables in the relationship. Salient among these variables are social influence and self motivation. The study utilized qualitative research design. In so doing, over fifty relevant literatures on the subject were espoused in order of relevance to the study. After examining several articles in the literature, we were left in a paradox. Entrepreneurial skills acquisition was found to influence self employment in most of the articles reviewed, but in limited cases, some studies found that entrepreneurial skills acquisition does not guarantee self employment. Several social and psychological factors were proffered as mediators in the relationship between entrepreneurial skills acquisition and self employment. The study thus recommends entrepreneurial skills training mix that incorporates relevant environmental variables that inhibits skills acquisition from resulting to self employment.
Keywords: Self-Motivation, Self-employment, entrepreneurial skills acquisition, social influence
Entrepreneurial Skills and Self Employment: A Theoretical Exposition (Published)
This paper was a theoretical exposition of relevant concepts in entrepreneurship literature. A qualitative research design was utilized in the study. In doing so, a thematic and theoretical approach was used in presenting the facts. Entrepreneurial skills were indexed to include: technical skills, business skills and personal entrepreneurial skills. Their relationships with self-employment as seen in the literature were analyzed. The influence of the mediators (psycho- social factors: self- motivation and social influence) were also analyzed. The paper revealed that the proxies of entrepreneurial skills and the mediators as espoused in the literature were closely knitted with enterprise creation. The study thus concluded that with adequate motivation and positive social influence, entrepreneurial skills acquisition will metamorphose to self-employment.
Citation: Agogbua, S. N. and Mgbatogu, C. D. (2022) Entrepreneurial Skills and Self Employment: A Theoretical Exposition, International Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Research, Vol.10, No.2, pp.,16-35
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Skills, Self-Motivation, Self-employment, social influence