Understanding Entrepreneurial Behaviour of Rural Youth in Agriculture and Allied Sectors

Shardinjay Singh; Kumar Sonu; R K Doharey; Sneha Singh; Suchismita Sahoo

doi:10.48165/IJEE.2026.62202

Authors

Shardinjay Singh Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Ayodhya, U.P., India https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9885-8272
Kumar Sonu Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Ayodhya, U.P., India https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7922-4609
R K Doharey Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Ayodhya, U.P., India
Sneha Singh Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Rastriy Kishan College, Shamli
Suchismita Sahoo M.Sc. Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Ayodhya, U.P., India

https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2026.62202

Keywords:

Rural youth, entrepreneurship, agriculture, multiple regression, Ghazipur

Abstract

The study examined the entrepreneurial behaviour of 160 rural youth during 2024-25, through a cross-sectional survey design. Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression analysis, assessed the influence of socioeconomic, informational, and behavioral factors on entrepreneurial tendencies. Entrepreneurial behaviour was conceptualized as a composite of innovativeness (mean = 26.87), achievement motivation (mean = 20.53), and risk orientation (mean = 21.49). The regression model explained 36.14% of the variance in entrepreneurial behavior. Age emerged as a significant negative predictor (β = –0.32, p = 0.001), indicating that younger youth were more entrepreneurial. Annual income was the strongest positive predictor (β = 1.7 × 10⁻⁵, p < 0.001), highlighting the critical role of economic capacity. Knowledge level showed a marginally positive association (p = 0.055), while education and mass media exposure were non-significant. Notably, 73.12% of respondents exhibited medium-level entrepreneurship, suggesting substantial untapped potential. The findings underscore that rural youth entrepreneurship is fundamentally conditioned by economic resources and age-cohort effects, with implications for extension programmes and policy targeting resource constraints rather than motivation alone. Tailored interventions addressing capital access, practical skill development, and risk-reduction mechanisms are essential for converting latent entrepreneurial potential into active enterprise creation among rural youth.

References

Amaran, K. and Krishnamoorthy, A. (2023). Perception of students on agriculture as an occupation- a reference to Pondicherry University postgraduate students. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management, 10(3), 55-59.

Bharti, V., Sarma, K., Kumar, T., Singh, J., & Ahirwal, S. K. (2022). Aquaculture: To achieve economic development in Bihar, India: A review. International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress Management, 13(9), 961-972.

Bhati, N. K., Upadhyay, R., & Upadhyay, B. (2014). Entrepreneurial behavior of rural women in dairying. Indian Journal of Extension Education and Rural Development, 22, 153-155.

George, A. S. (2023). Evaluating India's economic growth: challenges and opportunities on the path to 5 trillion dollars. Partners Universal International Innovation Journal, 1(6), 85-109. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10307006

Gowda, M. C., Rana, R. K., Pal, P. P., Dubey, S. K., Kumar, A., Meena, M. S., & Thimmappa13, K. (2023). Economic performance of enterprises promoted under ARYA and relationship with entrepreneurial competencies. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 59(2), 10-15. http://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2023.59203

Gupta B., Kher S.K. & Nain M.S. (2013). Entrepreneurial behaviour and constraints encountered by dairy and poultry entrepreneurs in Jammu Division of J&K State. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 49 (3&4), 126-129.

Gupta S. K. Nain M.S., Singh R., Mishra J R., & Lata A. (2023). Exploring the entrepreneurial climate and attributes of agripreneurs and its determinants. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 59 (2), 93-97. http://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2023.59220

Kademani S., Nain M.S., Singh R., Dhull S.K., Parsad R., Sharma D.K., Roy S.K. (2026). Personal and institutional determinants of an effective entrepreneurial intervention, Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology,28(1), 87-101.

Kobba F., Nain M.S., Singh Rashmi, Mishra J.R. (2021). Determinants of entrepreneurial success in farm and non-farm sectors: A comparative analysis. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 91(2), 269-73.

Mukharjee, M., & Ghosh, S. (2025). Behavioural Determinants of Secondary Agriculture-based Entrepreneurs in Assam. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 61(4), 90-95. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2025.61415

Okello, D. (2020). Gender effect of entrepreneurial orientation on dairy farming career resilience in Kenya. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6(1), 1863565. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1863565

Prasad, M. V.L. and Chandrasekhar, S. (2018). Entrepreneurial behaviour of small marginal farmers in integrated farming system. International Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 36(1), 89-97.

Rai, D.P., Singh, S.K. and Dangi, J.S. (2014). A study on entrepreneurial behaviour of vegetable growers in Bhopal district of M.P. Agriculture Update, 9(3), 368-372.

Raina, V., Bhushan, B., Bakshi, P., & Khajuria, S. (2016). Entrepreneurial behaviour of dairy farmers. Journal of Animal Research, 6(5), 947-953.

Samrit, V., Suradkar, D., Pagare, Y., Ghodke, R., & Takte, P. (2023). Study of rural youth and identification of their occupational aspirations. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 12(11), 2257-2259.

Shivacharan, G. (2014). A study on entrepreneurial behaviour and attitude of rural youth towards agri-entrepreneurship (Doctoral dissertation, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad).

Sonu, K., & Jha, K. K. (2025). Understanding entrepreneurial behaviour of Makhana growers in Bihar using SEM-PLS approach. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 61(2), 62-66. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2025.61212

Tariq, S., Malik, R., Shah, T. H., Aishi, I., Islam, M. A., & Rather, T. A. (2022). Determining socioeconomic drivers of entrepreneurship development among SKUAST-K agricultural students in Kashmir. The Pharma Innovation Journal,11(1), 1644-1650.

Verma, R., Verma, K., Verma, J., Singh, T., & Bisen, P. S. (2024). Indian rural development: a review of technology and society. SN Social Sciences, 4(2), 42.