Exploring the Role of Social Capital in Agricultural Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition: Application of Smart PLS
Subject Areas : Family and social enterprise
مژگان
خوش مرام
1
(گروه توسعه و آموزش کشاورزی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه رازی)
Kiumars
Zarafshani
2
(دانشیار گروه توسعه و آموزش کشاورزی، داشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه رازی)
امیرحسین
علی بیگی
3
(استادیار گروه توسعه و آموزش کشاورزی دانشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه رازی)
علی اصغر
میراک زاده
4
(استادیار گروه توسعه و آموزش کشاورزی دانشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه رازی)
Keywords: Employment, social network, Agricultural entrepreneurship, strong tie, weak tie,
Abstract :
Although agriculture has a major role in economy, in general,and employment opportunities for unemployed population,in particular, limited ability of individuals to recognize entrepreneurialopportunities in agriculture has reduced the share ofagriculture in employment. Therefore, the enhancement of opportunityrecognition skills among individuals in the agriculturesector is believed to solve unemployment challenges. Socialcapital is a rich source of information that permits the individualsto identify different combinations of the means-ends in thecreation of new products or services for a particular market.Thus, this study sought to explore the role of social capitalcomponents in agricultural entrepreneurial opportunity recognitionin Kermanshah province. The statistical population of this studyconsisted of all agricultural entrepreneurs in Kermanshahprovince (N=136), 102 of them were selected as the sample ofthe study based on Krejcie and Morgan’s sampling table andthe use of a proportional stratified sampling method. The maininstrument in this study was a questionnaire whose validity wasconfirmed by a panel of experts; its average variance wasextracted, and its discriminant validity and reliability coefficientwas established by using a Cronbach's alpha as well as thecomposite reliability index. Data were analyzed by SPSSV23and Smart PLS3 softwares. The result of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that the social capital components(strong ties and weak ties) were the main predictors of opportunityrecognition among agricultural entrepreneurs in Kermanshahprovince. Findings of this study carry important implicationsfor agricultural policy makers and educators aiming to fostergreater inclusion and cohesion, and to increase transparencyand accountability, in order to develop the recognition and exploitationof entrepreneurial opportunities in the process ofpromoting agricultural entrepreneurship.
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